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WHEN   ISRAEL   PUTNAM  SERVED 
THE   KING. 


STORIES  OF 
AMERICAN  HISTORY 

BY 

JAMES  OTIS 

When  Israel  Putnam  Served  the  King:    A 

Story  of  the  French  and  Indian  War. 
The  Signal  Boys  of  '75:     A  Story  of  the 

Siege  of  Boston. 
Under  the   Liberty  Tree:     A   Story  of  the 

Boston  Massacre. 
The  Boys   of   1745    at   the  Capture   of    Louis- 

bourg. 

An  Island  Refuge:     Casco  Bay  in  1676. 
Neal  the  Miller:     A  Son  of  Liberty. 
Ezra  Jordan's    Escape   from  the  Massacre   at 

Fort  Loyall. 

Each  volume  doth,  small  f2mo,  neatly 
bound,  75  cents. 


ESTES  &  LAURIAT 

PUBLISHERS 


WHEN  ISRAEL  PUTNAM  SERVED 
THE  KING 


BY 

JAMES    OTIS 

AUTHOR  OF   "JENNY  WREN'S  BOARDING-HOUSE,"  "JERRY'S  FAMILY, 
"THE  BOYS'  REVOLT,"  "THE  BOYS  OF  1745,"  ETC. 


Elhtstrateti 


BOSTON 

ESTES    AND    LAURIAT 
1898 


Copyright,  1898 
BY  ESTES  AND  LAURIAT 


Colonial  litres: 

Electrotyped  and  Printed  by  C.  H.  Simonds  &  Co. 
Boston,  U.  S.  A. 


CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

NOTE II 

I.     AT  SOUTH  BAY 15 

II.     THE  ATTACK 32 

III.  DESERTING  THE  WOUNDED 50 

IV.  SEWATIS 65 

V.     NEAR  FORT  ANNE 81 

VI.     THE  PRISONER 97 


LIST   OF   ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE 

"  THE   INDIAN  BOUND   ISRAEL  PUTNAM   HAND  AND  FOOT 

TO  A  TREE" Frontispiece 

OLD  SEABURY  TELLING  THE  YOUNG  SOLDIER  THE  STORY    .  12 

"'GLAD  TO  SEE  YOU,  YOUNG  SEABURY'"    ....  19 

BUILDING  THE  BREASTWORKS 24 

AWAITING  THE  ENEMY 29 

THE  ARRIVAL  OF  THE  ENEMY 37 

" '  WE'LL  STAND  BACK  TO  BACK  '  " 43 

A  VOLLEY  OF  MUSKETRY  FROM  THE  FOLIAGE      ...  47 

IN  THE  WILDERNESS 57 

THE  TWO  COWARDS 62 

SEWATIS  BOUND  TO  A  TREE 71 

"WE  DASHED  FORWARD" 76 

IN  CAMP  NEAR  FORT  ANNE 83 

"  MAJOR  ROGERS  WAS  SKULKING  IN  THE  REAR  "         .  93 

SEWATIS  FINDS  THE  TRAIL 101 

MOLANG  IN  THE  UNIFORM  OF  A  FRENCH  OFFICER      .        .  IO7 


WHEN   ISRAEL   PUTNAM  SERVED 
THE   KING. 


NOTE. 

THIS  tale  is  rewritten  from  a  time-worn  manuscript, 
very  nearly  as  there  set  down  by  a  lad  seventeen 
years  of  age,  who  served  his  country  during  the  War  of 
1812. 

It  was  within  a  few  months  after  having  been  honour- 
ably discharged  from  the  service  (probably  in  1815)  that 
the  writer,  Enoch  Wilson,  met  one  Captain  Zenas  Sea- 
bury,  an  old  man  nearly  eighty  years  of  age,  who  repeated 
the  substance  of  this  story,  to  prove  to  the  boy  so  lately 
from  the  second  conflict  with  the  mother  country,  that  in 
the  olden  .times  "  soldiers  were  soldiers,  and  not  make- 
believes." 

From  Enoch's  written  statement,  it  would  appear  that 
he  took  umbrage  at  this  remark,  and  loudly  maintained 
that  the  troops  who  answered  to  their  country's  call  in 
1812  were  better  soldiers  in  every  way  than  any  who  had 
then  been  seen  on  this  side  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  not  except- 
ing those  sent  over  in  1776  by  King  George  to  bring  the 
unruly  colonists  into  subjection. 

ii 


12        WHEN  ISRAEL   PUTNAM  SERVED    THE   KING. 

"  To  prove  that  you  are  mistaken,  I  will  tell  of  what  we 
did,  Amos  Cowden  and  I,  when  Israel  Putnam  served  the 
King,"  the  old  man  said,  boastfully,  and  the  boy  asked, 
sceptically  : 

"  Do  you  mean  our  General  Putnam  ?  " 

"  Aye,  lad,  that  I  do,  although  he  was  major  when  I 
enlisted  under  him." 


"  But  he  never  served  the  King  !  " 

"  Think  you  so,  lad  ?  Then,  since  you  are  through  play- 
ing the  soldier,  it  is  time  you  read  more  concerning  the 
history  of  those  men  who,  by  their  deeds  of  valour,  pur- 
chased for  you  this  country,  whose  dignity  you  have  been 
doing  your  little  part  towards  sustaining.  In  1755,  when 
what  is  known  as  the  French  War  was  in  progress,  Israel 
Putnam  tilled  the  soil  like  many  another  good  man  before 
him,  in  the  settlement  of  Pomfret,  over  Connecticut  way. 


NOTE.  13 

He  was  appointed  to  command  the  first  troops  raised  in 
that  vicinity,  and  given  a  major's  commission.  Now,  hark 
you,  lad,  it  was  the  King's  commission,  not  one  from  Con- 
tinental Congress,  that  our  General  Putnam  first  held.  I 
am  not  minded  to  make  any  long  story  of  what  he  has 
done  for  this  land  which  we  now  call  the  United  States, 
because,  perchance,  there  are  not  sufficient  years  of  mine 
in  this  world  remaining  in  which  to  tell  it.  The  lines  in- 
scribed on  a  slab  in  the  graveyard  at  Brooklyn,  in  the  State 
of  Connecticut,  sum  up  all  he  was,  and  I  have  writ  it  down." 

The  old  soldier  took  from  his  pocket  a  slip  of  paper, 
which  he  handed  the  boy,  and  on  it  was  the  epitaph  of  the 
officer  under  whom  he  had  served. 

It  read  as  follows  : 

This  monument  is  erected  to  the  memory  of  the  Honourable 
Israel  Putnam,  Esq.,  major-general  in  the  armies  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  who  was  born  at  Salem,  in  the  Province  of 
Massachusetts,  on  the  seventh  day  of  January,  1718,  and  died  at 
Brooklyn,  in  the  State  of  Connecticut,  on  the  twenty-ninth  day  of 
May,  A.  D.  1 790.  Passenger,  if  thou  art  a  soldier,  go  not  away  till 
thou  hast  dropped  a  tear  over  the  dust  of  a  Hero,  who,  ever  tenderly 
attentive  to  the  lives  and  happiness  of  his  men,  dared  to  lead  where 
any  one  dared  to  follow.  If  thou  art  a  patriot,  remember  with  grati- 
tude how  much  thou  and  thy  country  owe  to  the  disinterested  and 
gallant  exertions  of  the  patriot  who  sleeps  beneath  this  marble.  If 
thou  art  an  honest,  generous,  and  worthy  man,  render  a  sincere  and 
cheerful  tribute  of  respect  to  a  man  whose  generosity  was  singular ; 
whose  honesty  was  proverbial ;  and  who,  with  a  slender  education, 
with  small  advantages,  and  without  powerful  friends,  raised  himself 
to  universal  esteem,  and  to  offices  of  eminent  distinction,  by  personal 
worth,  and  by  the  diligent  services  of  a  useful  life. 


14        WHEN  ISRAEL   PUTNAM  SERVED    THE   KING. 

"  Tell  me  if  you  can,"  the  boy  asked,  after  reading  the 
lines,  "  tell  me  if  you  can,  in  what  way  the  King's  troops 
in  1755  excelled  those  who  have  just  been  discharged  from 
service." 

"  That  will  best  be  done  by  relating  to  you  the  part 
Amos  Cowden  and  I  played  under  Major  Israel  Putnam 
in  1758,  nearabout  Lake  Champlain  ;  and  when  the  story  is 
finished,  if  it  so  be  you  care  to  hear  it,  I  will  leave  you  to 
say  whether  we  who  fought  then,  in  the  wilderness,  with 
inferior  weapons,  each  man  for  himself  as  it  were,  did  not 
make  a  better  showing  than  you  who  are  so  lately  returned 
full  of  boasting." 

What  may  have  followed  between  the  old  and  the  young 
soldier  after  this  conversation  is  not  known  ;  but  on  the 
next  page  of  manuscript,  in  very  nearly  the  same  words 
here  used,  appears  the  tale  told  by  Zenas  Seabury. 


CHAPTER  I. 

AT    SOUTH    BAY. 

IT  was  in  June  of  1758  when  Amos  Cowden  and  I,  liv- 
ing nearabout  Pomfret,  in  Connecticut,  decided  that 
the  time  had  come  when  we  should  serve  the  King,  provid- 
ing it  might  be  done  under  the  command  of  Major  Israel 
Putnam,  whom  we  well  knew  to  be  a  brave  man  and  a  good 
soldier. 

Amos  was  little  more  than  fourteen,  —  I  within  two 
months  of  being  fifteen  ;  but  boys  in  those  days  were  older 
at  that  age  than  they  seem  now  to  be  at  one  and  twenty. 

We  were  not  wholly  inexperienced  in  such  warfare  as  the 
French  were  then  carrying  on,  for  the  Indian  war-whoop  had 
been  heard  by  both  of  us  many  a  time,  and  more  than  once 
had  we  followed  our  elders  against  the  savages  in  order  to 
the  better  secure  safety  for  our  homes. 

Of  that  time,  when  he  who  went  abroad  must  perforce 
carry  his  musket  with  him,  as  the  lads  of  this  day  do  their 
walking.-sticks,  it  is  not  necessary  I  should  make  many 
words,  for  you  already  know  how  we  who  plunged  into  the 
wilderness  to  find  a  homestead,  fought  against  beasts  and 
savages  to  maintain  a  foothold. 

15 


1 6         l\'HEX  ISRAEL    PUTNAM  SERVED    THE   KIXG. 

Nor  shall  I  explain  all  that  Amos  and  I  did  in  the  way 
of  preparing  for  a  soldier's  life. 

\Ye  who  fought  then   provided   our   own   uniforms,  — 
which  were  neither  more  nor  less   than   the    clothes   we 
hunted  in, — our  own  weapons,  and  more  often  our  own 
ammunition. 

It  is  enough  when  I  say  we  were  bent  on  offering  our 
services  to  Major  Putnam,  and  knew  that  his  command 
was  at  Fort  Edward,  under  General  Abercrombie. 

To  make  our  way  from  Connecticut  to  Lake  Champlain 
was  not  looked  upon  as  any  very  great  hardship,  although 
I  question  if  you  find  many  lads  to-day,  fourteen  or  fifteen 
years  old,  who  would  willingly  set  out  through  the  forest 
on  such  a  tramp. 

We  had  made  up  our  minds  to  go,  and  we  went,  arriving 
at  our  destination  in  reasonably  good  season. 

The  major  seemed  glad  to  see  us,  and  well  he  might, 
for  recruits  who  could  be  depended  upon  to  stand  against 
the  savage  bands,  which  the  French  had  made  a  pre- 
tence of  enlisting,  were  not  to  be  found  in  considerable 
numbers. 

Although  I  say  it  who  should  not,  and  while  there  is  no 
thought  in  my  mind  of  disparaging  the  English  soldiers 
under  General  Abercrombie,  I  am  free  to  declare  that  a 
lad  like  Amos  Cowden  or  myself,  in  such  work  as  was 
needed  at  the  time,  stood  fully  the  equal  of  any  three  red- 
coats to  be  found  at  Fort  Edward. 

As  a  matter  of  course,  when  it  came  to  fighting  accord- 
ing to  rule,  we  made  a  precious  poor  showing,  not  because 


AT  SOUTH  BAY.  I/ 

there  was  any  lack  of  courage,  but  owing  to  our  not  under- 
standing the  drill. 

To  those  in  the  forest,  however,  where  no  enemy  is  to> 
be  seen,  and  yet  a  murderous  fire  is  poured  upon  one  from 
every  side,  as  I  said  before,  we  were  equal  to  three,  yes, 
to  ten  trained  soldiers  who  knew  no  more  than  to  stand 
up  and  be  shot  at. 

As  for  beating  the  redcoats  at  their  own  game,  why, 
bless  you,  lad,  they  were  like  teething  babies,  and  fell  by 
the  score  where  not  a  single  life  need  have  been  lost. 

Afterward,  we  who  fought  side  by  side  with  them  in  '58 
showed  that,  with  a  bit  of  training,  we  could  stand  equally 
well  in  front  of  them  in  '76,  and,  what  is  more,  we  did  it, 
to  their  sorrow. 

However,  that  is  neither  here  nor  there,  so  far  as  telling 
you  of  the  time  when  Israel  Putnam  served  the  King. 

As  I  said,  we  were  come  to  Fort  Edward  and  met  the 
major. 

There  wasn't  any  red-tape  business  about  calling  out  a 
recruiting  officer  and  enlisting  a  man,  swearing  him  in,  and 
all  that  sort  of  folderol ;  but  the  major  made  soldiers  of  us 
a  good  deal  like  this  : 

"  Glad  to  see  you,  young  Seabury.  How's  your  father  ? 
Has  he  been  doing  anything  with  winter  wheat  on  that 
burnt  land  this  year  ?  Well,  Cowden,  you  have  decided  it's 
time  to  serve  the  King,  eh  ?  Better  that  than  trying  to 
raise  wool  up  Connecticut  way.  Enlist  with  me  ?  Why, 
who  else  would  a  Pomfret  boy  serve  under,  if  not  Israel 
Putnam  ?  Find  yourselves  quarters,  and  I'll  see  you  have 


1 8         ll'HEX  ISRAEL    PCTA'AM  SERVED    THE    A'/A'G. 

work  in  plenty.  That  red  beast  of  a  Molang  is  making  it 
warm  for  us  whenever  he  gets  a  chance,  and  you  won't 
be  idle." 

We  found  quarters  without  much  trouble,  for  a  good 
many  Pomfret  lads  served  under  the  major,  and  before 
having  been  at  the  fort  half  an  hour  it  was  as  if  we  were 
at  home. 

Now  I  am  not  counting  on  telling  you  all  the  whys  and 
wherefores  of  the  French  wars,  nor  of  the  bloody  business 
the  frog-eaters  daubed  their  hands  in  for  the  sake  of  best- 
ing us.  It  is  only  of  the  part  Amos  Cowden  and  I  played, 
and  we  set  about  it  in  less  than  four  and  twenty  hours 
from  the  time  of  having  declared  our  willingness  to  serve 
the  King. 

When  we  arrived,  Amos  and  I,  General  Abercrombie 
had  already  given  commands  that  the  Rangers  —  meaning 
in  that  case  mostly  the  colonists  who  had  enlisted  like  our- 
selves —  were  to  set  out  from  Fort  Edward  to  watch  the 
enemy  nearabout  Ticonderoga ;  for  it  was  from  that  direc- 
tion, as  you  know,  that  trouble  might  be  expected,  and  it 
was  from  there  that  it  did  finally  come. 

Unused  as  I  was  to  seeing  large  bodies  of  men  together, 
it  was  difficult  for  me  to  guess  just  how  many  did  march 
on  that  day  after  we  came  into  the  fort.  To  the  best  of 
my  belief,  however,  there  were  between  four  and  five  hun- 
dred, in  three  divisions  ;  the  right  under  Major  Rogers, 
the  left,  in  which  could  be  found  Amos  and  I,  under  Major 
Putnam,  and  the  centre  under  Captain  Dalyell. 

Now,  in  our  division  was,  all  told,  not  more  than  fifty, 


AT  SOUTH  BAY.  21 

and  when,  at  the  end  of  the  second  day's  travel,  we  were 
arrived  near  to  South  Bay,  on  Lake  Champlain,  it  was 
decided  that  Israel  Putnam's  force  should  remain  there, 
while  Major  Rogers  and  Captain  Dalyell  were  to  go 
further  on. 

Why  it  was  the  troops  did  not  keep  together,  I  cannot 
say,  unless  the  leaders  had  an  idea  that  the  redskins 
might  make  an  approach  from  Lake  George,  at  Bluff  or 
Shelving  Rock,  after  our  people  had  gone  on  towards 
Ticonderoga. 

However  it  might  be,  we  camped  at  what  was  known  as 
the  Elbow,  half  a  mile  or  less  from  the  entrance  to  South 
Bay,  and  here  it  seemed  to  me  at  the  time  as  if  a  great 
disaster  came  upon  us,  —  one  which  could  not  well  be 
explained. 

The  Rangers  were  a  hardy  set,  like  all  the  colonists  in 
those  days,  and  much  averse  to  admitting  that  they  were 
sick.  I  myself  would  have  held  my  head  up  and  marched 
with,  the  command  so  long  as  it  might  be  possible,  however 
ill  I  felt,  and  you  can  fancy  there  was  not  a  man  among  us 
inclined  to  be  womanish. 

Therefore  it  was,  I  say,  a  disaster  which  could  not  be 
explained,  when  more  than  half  our  force  gave  out  entirely 
on  the  morning  after  making  camp  ;  and  you  may  be  cer- 
tain not  one  among  them  was  shamming. 

The  major  danced  here  and  there  like  a  widow  bewitched, 
trying  to  make  up  his  mind  what  had  so  suddenly  come 
over  all  hands,  and  knowing  meanwhile,  beyond  any  rea- 
sonable chance  for  doubt,  that  the  brute  of  a  Molang,  with 


22         WHEN  ISRAEL   PUTNAM  SERVED    THE   KING. 

five,  six,  or  seven  hundred  painted  imps  at  his  back,  was 
prowling  around  close  at  hand. 

Go  back  to  the  fort  ?  Yes,  of  course  we  might  ;  but  I 
question,  lad,  whether  Israel  Putnam  would  have  done 
such  a  thing  even  had  the  whole  fifty  of  his  men  been 
unfit  for  duty. 

As  for  Amos  and  I,  we  never  so  much  as  dreamed  that 
such  a  thing  could  be  possible. 

It  was  a  matter  of  pushing  ahead,  or,  that  being  im- 
possible, to  remain  where  you  were,  rather  than  show 
up  at  the  fort  before  the  work  mapped  out  had  been 
performed. 

If  the  major  discovered  what  caused  this  sudden  sick- 
ness, he  did  not  tell  us  ;  but,  on  the  second  day,  when 'the 
invalids  showed  little  or  no  signs  of  improvement,  fifteen 
were  ordered  back  to  the  fort,  and,  although  not  a  man  of 
them  but  what  should  have  been  in  the  hospital,  there 
was  great  ado  made  because  Israel  Putnam  insisted  they 
must  beat  a  retreat. 

However,  to  make  a  long  story  short,  they  went,  and 
thirty-five  of  us  remained  on  the  lookout  for  Molang,  giv- 
ing little  or  no  heed  to  the  fact  that  we  were  but  a  hand- 
ful of  men  waiting  for  the  coming  of  hundreds. 

Yes,  I  am  free  to  admit  it  was  not  a  pleasant  outlook, 
particularly  for  Amos  and  I,  who  were  green  at  this 
wholesale  Injun-hunting,  as  you  might  call  it ;  but  perhaps 
both  of  us  took  good  care  to  keep  it  a  secret  from  each 
other  if  we  grew  timorous  now  and  then,  and  when  the 
squad  of  fifteen  departed,  grumbling  furiously  as  they 


AT  SOUTH  BAY.  2$ 

went,  we  who  were  left  behind  understood  that  we  must 
do  double  duty  if  we  would  save  our  hair  and  our  lives. 

Our  numbers  were  yet  further  reduced  by  the  spies 
which  the  major  kept  on  the  move  all  the  time,  for,  unlike 
the  commander  of  the  right  division,  who  was  not  what 
you  might  call  an  Injun-fighter,  Israel  Putnam  knew  that, 
in  measuring  strength  or  cunning  with  Molang,  he  must 
ever  be  on  the  alert. 

Now  we  all  understood  for  a  certainty  that,  when  the 
savages  made  their  appearance,  it  would  be  in  such  force 
that  we  could  have  but  little  chance  against  them,  unless 
provided  with  something  in  the  way  of  a  fortification,  and 
here  was  where  the  soldier  in  our  major  showed  itself. 

Near  where  we  had  camped,  the  lake,  as  you  know,  is 
very  narrow,  and  the  shores  are  like  rocky  cliffs,  on  the 
top  of  which  are  dense  thickets. 

We  who  were  not  on  scouting  duty,  or  acting  as  senti- 
nels, were  set  about  carrying  loose  rocks  to  the  very  edge 
of  the  cliffs,  where  we  built  a  breastwork,  as  you  might 
say,  and  afterwards,  by  hewing  small  pine-trees  and  plac- 
ing them  in  front  of  this  defence,  completely  hid  it  from 
view  of  any  one  who  might  pass  on  the  lake. 

It  was  such  a  fortification  as  heartened  us  all  wonder- 
fully, for  even  though  we  were  determined  to  hold  our 
own  so  long  as  might  be,  even  Amos  and  I,  the  youngest 
of  the  party,  knew  full  well  of  how  little  avail  thirty-five 
men  might  be  against  such  a  force  as  Molang  would 
bring.  Therefore,  I  say,  this  breastwork  heartened  us 
wonderfully,  and,  at  the  close  of  the  second  day  after  the 


24        WHEN  ISRAEL   PUTNAM  SERVED    THE  KING. 


sick  men  of  the  division  had  left  us,  the  major,  making  a 
tour  of  the  little  fort,  halted  in  such  a  position  that  all 
might  hear  his  words,  saying  cheerily,  much  as  though 
inviting  us  to  a  feast  at  his  own  farmhouse  in  Pomfret  : 
"  Lads,  it  is  well  done,  and  should  serve  better  purpose 
than  that  of  sheltering  us  while  we 
lay  here  idle.     If  it  so  be  you  are 
minded,  and  I   have  a   strong  idea 
^C  no  one  will  say  nay  to  the  plan, 

V^-^'/f"7^?~ — .  we'll    make     an 

^Sw^STito 

L  i. 


attack  upon 
whatever  force  may 
come.  Let  that 
brute  Molang  show  him- 
self at  the  head  of  a  hundred  or  a  thousand,  and  I  say 
to  you,  lads,  we're  a  match  for  them.  To  pass  down  in 
canoes  they  must  all  come  within  musket-shot,  and 
you  are  men  who  seldom  waste  a  bullet.  What  say 
you?" 

There  was  no  cheering,  for,  situated  as  we  were,  even 
loud    conversation  was  forbidden,  and    I    believe  no  one 


AT  SOUTH  BAY.  2$ 

before  had  raised  his  voice  as  high  as  our  major  when  he 
thus  addressed  us. 

Yet,  if  the  cheers  were  lacking,  the  evidence  of  our 
spirit  was  not. 

For  reply  to  Israel  Putnam's  question,  every  one  of  us, 
and  Amos  and  I  were  not  among  the  hindermost,  arose 
with  our  muskets  in  our  hands,  to  show  that  we  were 
ready  for  whatever  might  come. 

If,  perchance,  there  flashed  into  my  mind  the  thought 
that,  however  brave  a  showing  we  might  make  when  the 
red  imps  first  appeared,  there  could  be  little  question  of 
the  result  should  they  give  battle,  it  must  not  be  set  down 
as  cowardice,  for  I  hold  to  it  that  he  only  is  brave  who 
knows  all  the  dangers  before  him. 

"  It  is  well,"  the  major  said,  quietly,  in  a  tone  of  con- 
tent. "  There  is  nothing  now  for  us  to  do  save  remain  on 
the  alert.  When  a  man  among  you  sees  a  spot  in  the 
defence  which  might  be  strengthened,  let  him  repair  it,  tak- 
ing good  heed,  however,  that  the  line  is  not  weakened  too 
severely,  and  from  now  until  the  red  fiend  Molang  appears, 
if  it  so  be  he  does,  we  must  sleep  with  one  eye  open." 

Bear  in  mind,  lad,  that  we  were  but  thirty-five.  Within 
twenty  miles  at  the  farthest,  and  perhaps  only  a  tenth  of 
that  distance  away,  was  a  force  of  French  and  Indians,  so 
General  Abercrombie  had  been  informed,  of  not  less  than 
two  thousand,  and  we  had  as  leader  a  man  who  was  of 
the  mind  to  attack  the  first  body  of  men  or  brutes  which 
appeared,  however  large. 

With   that    before   you,  you  can,  mayhap,  understand 


26        WHEN  ISRAEL   PUTNAM  SERVED    THE   KING. 

what  was  in  Amos' s  mind  and  mine  as,  on  this  second 
night,  we  lay  behind  the  wall  of  stones,  listening  intently 
for  the  slightest  unusual  sound,  knowing  it  would  betoken 
the  coming  of  the  foe. 

"  I  am  thinking  we  are  like  to  stay  here  till  Gabriel 
sounds  the  last  trumpet,  if  Molang  comes  this  way  soon," 
Amos  said  to  me  in  a  whisper.  "  I  do  not  count  the 
French  as  enemies  greatly  to  be  feared  while  we  fight  in 
the  woods  ;  but  he  is  worse  than  a  fool  who  would  belit- 
tle the  danger  in  case  any  considerable  body  of  Indians 
appear." 

"  And  do  you  say  that,  Amos,  meaning  it  is  your  idea 
the  major  is  overbrave  ?  " 

"  It  would  be  no  fault  in  him  if  he  were  that,  and  we 
know  he  is.  I  spoke  only  of  what  you  well  understand  : 
that  we  are  like  to  stay  here  long,  if  the  red  imps  come  in 
any  number." 

"  Do  you  envy  those  who,  being  sick,  returned  to  Fort 
Edward?"  I  asked,  more  in  jest  than  in  earnest,  for  I 
would  not  have  allowed  another  to  thus  question  Amos 
Cowden's  courage. 

"  You  know,  Zenas,  that  he  who  desired  to  go  back 
could  have  done  so,  and  did  I  show  any  inclination  to 
leave  my  comrades  ?  " 

"  No,  lad,  I  but  jested.  I  would  like  to  hear  why  you 
thought  it  necessary  to  state  what  all  of  us  know  full 
well." 

"  Perhaps  it  would  hearten  me  a  bit  to  put  into  words 
that  which  is  in  my  mind." 


AT  SOUTH  BAY.  2J 

"Are  you  suddenly  grown  timorous?"  I  asked,  smiling, 
but  not  daring  to  laugh,  lest  I  break  the  silence. 

"  I  am,  in  good  truth,  Zenas  Seabury  ;  but  at  the  same 
time  I  hold  it  is  no  shame.  I  am  thinking  that  this,  our 
first  service  for  the  King,  is  like  to  be  our  last." 

"  That  I  grant  you,  lad,  and  what  more  ?  We  came  of 
our  own  free  will,  and  the  major  did  but  accept  of  our 
service,  as  we  requested." 

"  Aye,  Zenas,  and  being  here,  we  shall  do  our  best ;  yet 
now  I  have  a  favour  to  ask  for  the  future.  Do  you  re- 
member the  story  Cyrus  Litchfield  told  of  his  brother 
Robert's  fate?" 

"  But  why  do  you  conjure  up  such  pictures  at  this  time,. 
Amos  ?"  I  asked,  almost  petulantly. 

"  Because  our  ending  is  like  to  be  that  of  his,  unless 
we  prepare  against  it  in  advance.  You  remember,  Cyrus 
said  Robert  was  tied  with  green  withes  to  a  tree  ;  that 
the  red  fiends  shot  arrows  into  him,  taking  good  care 
none  inflicted  a  deadly  wound,  until  he  was  fairly  bristling 
with  them,  and  then  a  slow  fire  was  kindled  under  his 
feet,  in  such  a  manner  that  the  wind  had  full  sweep,  thus 
ploughing  the  smoke  away,  which  prevented  him  from  be- 
ing suffocated  ;  that  he  was  upwards  of  five  hours  dying." 

There  had  come  into  my  mind,  before  Amos  spoke,  this 
story  which  Cyrus  Litchfield  told,  and  Robert  was  scarce 
a  year  older  than  we ;  but  I  put  it  away  hastily,  lest  it 
make  me  cowardly. 

Now  I  was  almost  angered  because  my  comrade  had 
brought  it  so  fresh  to  mind,  and  said,  more  hotly  than  I 


28        WHEN  ISRAEL   PUTATAM  SERVED    THE   KING. 

would  have  done  had  I  stopped  an  instant  to  consider 
how  near  we  both  were  to  death  : 

"  If  you  can  bring  before  you,  at  such  time,  nothing 
better  than  this  horrible  picture,  it  were  well  you  had 
gone  with  the  sick,  back  to  Fort  Edward,  for  of  a  verity 
you  will  do  no  service  here." 

"  Do  not  be  angered,  Zenas.  I  spoke  with  a  purpose, 
but  it  was  not  to  recall  horrors  simply  for  the  sake  of 
repeating  them." 

"  To  what  end,  then,  have  you  spoken  ?  " 

"  To  ask  this  favour  :  if  it  should  so  be  that  we  attack 
Molang's  force,  and  are  worsted,  as  it  seems  positive  we 
must  be,  do  you  keep  the  last  bullet  for  me.  I  will 
promise  to  do  the  same  for  you.  Knowing  that  I  have 
your  word,  I  shall  no  longer  fear  Robert  Litchfield's  fate, 
and  can  fight  with  better  heart  to  the  last." 

Now  was  the  lad  showing  himself  of  braver  metal  than 
I,  and,  acting  on  the  impulse  of  the  moment,  I  flung  both 
my  arms  around  him. 

He  returned  the  embrace,  and  while  one  might  have 
counted  twenty,  we  two  sat  there,  strengthened  by 
thoughts  of  the  friendship  which  each  entertained  for 
the  other,  as  well  as  heartened  by  the  promise  of  what 
should  be  done,  when  the  last  hour  came. 

Because  of  having  made  arrangements  to  avoid  pain  in 
the  future,  we  were  not  minded  to  neglect  precautions 
in  the  present,  and  set  about  strengthening  that  portion 
of  the  wall  where  we  were  stationed,  working  so  long  as 
the  twilight  permitted. 


A  T  SOUTH  BAY.  31 

It  was  as  if  Israel  Putnam  never  remained  in  a  single 
spot  two  minutes  at  a  time.  Here  arid  there,  from  one 
end  of  the  fortification  to  the  other,  he  walked  cautiously, 
as  though  following  the  trail  of  the  foe,  seeing  to  it  that 
every  man  of  our  little  band  was  on  the  alert,  and  ever 
ready  to  speak  such  word  as  might  hearten. 

When  it  came  so  dark  we  could  do  no  more  than 
remain  silent  and  motionless,  trusting  to  our  ears  to 
give  us  warning  of  the  approach  of  the  foe,  I  insisted 
that  Amos  sleep  while  I  watched,  and  thus,  turn  and  turn 
about,  should  we  two  pass  the  night. 

Not  until  I  had  promised  to  awaken  him  within  an 
hour,  did  the  dear  lad  consent  to  the  plan,  and  thus  we 
spent  the  time  until  daybreak,  expecting  each  instant 
to  be  engaged  in  conflict,  yet  hearing  nothing  to  betoken 
the  presence  of  an  enemy. 

Why  it  was  that  all  of  us  who  watched  behind  the 
breastworks  on  the  shore  of  South  Bay  should  have  been 
so  positive  the  enemy  would  come  this  night,  I  know  not ; 
but  be  that  as  it  may,  we  were  happily  disappointed  when 
the  sun  rose  again,  and  more  than  one  ventured  the  opin- 
ion that  Major  Rogers's  division,  not  ours,  would  be  the 
first  to  discover  the  foe. 

"We  shall  meet  them  here,"  Israel  Putnam  said,  as 
though  he  could  read  the  future.  "  We  shall  meet  them 
here,  lads  of  Connecticut,  and  however  strong  they  may 
be  in  numbers,  the  meeting  will  be  a  sorry  one  for  them." 


CHAPTER    II. 

THE    ATTACK. 

OF  what  passed  during  the  next  eight  and  forty  hours, 
there  is  little  need  I  should  speak,  because  it  would 
simply  be  to  use  the  same  words  over  and  over  again. 

We  remained  on  the  alert,  as  may  well  be  imagined, 
Amos  and  I,  side  by  side,  and  only  once  after  that  second 
night  did  he  speak  of  the  promise  we  had  made  each 
other. 

Then  it  was,  when  our  time  of  waiting  had  well-nigh 
come  to  an  end,  that  he  said,  as  if  referring  to  what  was 
already  beyond  a  peradventure  : 

"  We'll  not  forget  what  it  may  be  necessary  to  do  for 
each  other  before  many  hours,  and  our  hearts  will  not  fail 
us  at  the  last  moment  ?" 

"  I  remember  as  if  the  promise  were  but  just  made,"  was 
my  reply;  and  from  that  time  the  subject  was  not  brought 
up  again. 

During   this   eight  and  forty  hours  we  lived  on  short 

allowance,  as  can  well  be  fancied,  for  the  troops  in  those 

days  did  not  carry  large  supplies  of  provisions  with  them, 

—  each   man  run  his  own  commissary  department  when 

32 


THE  ATTACK.  33 

we  were  on  the  march,  save  it  might  be  immediately  after 
having  left  the  outposts  of  a  settlement. 

It  was  shortly  after  sunset,  on  the  night  of  the  fourth 
day  after  we  made  camp  at  the  Elbow,  when  one  of  the 
men,  whom  I  knew  had  been  out  on  the  scout,  came  into 
the  fortification,  if  such  a  term  could  be  given  our 
rude  approach  at  a  defence,  hurriedly,  and  with  an  ex- 
pression on  his  face  which  told  that  he  brought  news 
of  importance. 

At  the  moment,  Major  Putnam  stood  near  to  where 
Amos  and  I  had  posted  ourselves,  and  thus  it  was  we 
heard  the  full  report  of  the  scout. 

The  man  was  an  Indian  who  had  taken  service  because 
of  his  friendliness  for  Israel  Putnam,  and  that  which  he 
said  I  knew  could  be  depended  on  beyond  peradventure. 

"  Molang,  with  no  less  than  four  hundred  Indians  and 
a  hundred  Frenchmen,  has  made  a  portage  from  Lake 
George,  landing  near  to  Shelving  Rock,  and  is  now 
approaching,"  the  scout  said,  speaking  in  his  native 
tongue,  which  was  not  unfamiliar  to  either  Amos  or  I, 
we  having  learned  it  from  no  less  a  person  than  this  same 
redskin  himself. 

It  is  true  he  did  not  utter  the  very  words  I  have  repeated  ; 
but  in  his  way  that  was  what  the  information  meant. 

Although  he  reported  the  number  of  the  enemy  at  five 
hundred,  it  appeared  as  if  our  major  was  fearful  lest  he 
should  not  have  an  opportunity  of  meeting  them  with  his 
squad  of  thirty  -  five  men,  and  he  asked,  with  much  of 
anxiety  in  his  tones  : 


34        WHEN  ISRAEL   PUTNAM  SERVED    THE   KING. 

"Are  you  certain  they  come  this  way,  Sewatis  ? " 

"  I  remained  near  by  until  the  foremost  began  launching 
their  canoes.  They  will  pass  in  half  an  hour." 

"  Faith,  but  you  are  giving  to  us  little  time  for  prepa- 
ration ;  and  yet  I  do  not  know  that  we  need  it,"  the  major 
said,  as  if  speaking  to  himself,  and  then,  turning  to  me,  he 
added  : 

"  Did  you  understand  what  Sewatis  said,  Seabury  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir ;  it  was  he  who  taught  me  how  to  speak  his 
lingo." 

"  Then  see  to  it  you  remain  on  the  alert.  Remember, 
not  the  slightest  sound,  no  matter  how  fair  a  target  may 
present  itself,  until  I  give  the  word." 

Then  he  moved  from  one  to  the  other  of  our  little  party, 
telling  of  the  news  which  had  been  brought,  and,  as  I  sup- 
pose, giving  some  orders  to  each  man  in  turn,  until  all  of 
us  who  were  then  behind  the  wall  of  the  rock  knew  what 
might  be  expected. 

At  this  moment  there  were  but  three,  now  that  Sewatis 
had  returned,  who  were  out  on  the  scout,  —  Lieutenant 
Durkee  and  two  men  who  lived  nearabout  Guilford. 

"  In  half  an  hour  there  will  be  fifteen  of  the  enemy 
against  every  one  of  us,"  Amos  whispered,  softly.  "  It  is 
odds  such  as  pleases  the  major,  and  yet  I  should  be  better 
content  were  we  more  nearly  equal  in  force." 

"  These  breastworks,  and  the  fact  that  they  will  be  in 
canoes  when  we  fire  upon  them,  give  us  big  advantage, 
even  though  we  be  small  in  numbers,"  I  replied,  deter- 
mined to  keep  in  mind  whatsoever  might  serve  to  hearten 


THE   ATTACK.  35 

me,  for  of  a  verity  I  was  growing  weak-kneed  at  the  thought 
of  the  desperate  encounter  in  which  we  must  soon  take 
part. 

At  this  moment,  the  major  glided  noiselessly  as  a  pan- 
ther past  where  we  were  lying,  and  seemingly  as  eager  as 
such  a  brute  when  he  is  in  search  of  prey. 

We  held  our  peace,  lest  he  should  reprove  us  for  even 
§o  much  as  a  whisper,  which  would  surely  be  a  grave 
offence  when  you  remember  the  nature  of  those  whom  we 
knew  were  approaching. 

It  was  as  if  nature  would  aid  us  in  the  coming  struggle. 

The  night  was  so  calm  that  the  flame  of  a  candle  would 
hardly  have  flickered  ;  not  a  cloud  could  be  seen  in  the 
sky,  and  it  was  the  time  of  the  full  moon. 

Below  us,  the  water,  so  narrow  at  this  point  that  a  mus- 
ket-ball would  readily  carry  to  the  opposite  shore,  and  had 
a  leaf  floated  by  on  the  surface  of  the  lake,  it  could  easily 
have  been  distinguished  from  where  we  lay. 

If  the  red  murderers  ventured  around  the  Elbow,  they 
must  pass  within  fifty  yards  of  our  ambush,  and  even 
though  we  were  worsted  in  the  end,  as  I  doubted  not 
would  be  the  case,  certain  it  was  we  should  make  havoc 
among  them  before  they  were  recovered  from  the  first 
surprise. 

I  don't  know  how  it  may  have  been  with  Amos,  but,  as 
for  me,  every  one  of  those  twenty-five  or  thirty  minutes 
which  were  spent  there,  expecting  each  instant  to  see  the 
foremost  of  the  fleet  of  canoes  appear  on  the  moonlit 
waters,  was  like  unto  ten  ordinary  minutes,  and  I  thought 


36        WHEN  ISRAEL   PUTNAM  SERVED    THE    KING. 

again  and  again  that  even  the  conflict,  unequal  though  it 
must  be,  would  seem  like  a  relief. 

When  the  suspense  was  ended,  it  was  suddenly,  and 
though  the  coming  of  the  enemy  had  been  expected,  I 
fancied  more  than  one  of  our  comrades  started  in  surprise 
when  the  first  craft  appeared  in  view. 

Involuntarily  I  glanced  back  towards  where  I  had  last 
seen  the  major. 

He  was  standing  with  up-raised  hand,  as  if  to  command 
silence,  and,  at  the  same  instant,  peering  gravely  out  over 
the  water,  a  look  on  his  face  which,  to  my  mind,  would 
have  boded  ill  for  Molang's  murderous  crew  had  we  been 
in  greater  numbers. 

Brief  as  was  the  time  of  my  looking  back,  when  I 
glanced  towards  the  water  again,  it  was  as  if  the  entire 
surface  was  covered  with  canoes  filled  with  painted  sav- 
ages, and  I  wondered  how  Sewatis  could  have  made  such 
a  mistake  as  to  numbers,  for  it  seemed  that  already  I  saw 
more  than  a  thousand  men,  and  as  yet  the  entire  French 
portion  of  the  force  had  not  appeared. 

Amos  was  literally  quivering  with  excitement,  and  I 
put  out  my  hand  to  steady  the  flint-lock,  which  had  nearly 
dropped  from  his  grasp. 

Had  it  been  other  than  Amos  Cowden  who  thus  trem- 
bled, I  would  have  said  he  was  afraid  ;  but  I  knew  my 
comrade  better  than  that,  and  had  seen  him  when  the 
Indians,  while  not  as  numerous,  were  where  it  was  possible 
to  do  us  more  harm. 

Instead  of  looking  at  the  foremost   boats,  I  kept  my 


THE   ATTACK. 


37 


eyes  fixed  upon  the  point  from  where  they  appeared,  that 
I  might  see  the  last ;  and  yet  the  end  came  not  when  it 
was  as  if  a  quarter  of  an  hour  had  passed,  while,  all  in 


front  of  me, 
the  moonlit  wa- 
ter   was    darkened    by 
this  murderous  crew. 

Once  more  I  glanced  to- 
wards the  major,  saying  to 
myself  that  surely  now  was  come  the  time  when  he  would 
give  the  signal. 

His  hand  was  still  raised  as  if  to  command  silence,  and 
I  wondered  why  we  were  held  back  when  not  a  man 
among  us  could  fail  of  hitting  his  target. 


38        \VHEAT  ISRAEL   PUTNAM  SERVED    THE   KING. 

Already  were  the  foremost  of  the  canoes  past  our 
breastworks,  and  then  suddenly  came  a  noise  so  slight 
that,  under  other  circumstances,  I  would  have  hardly  given 
it  heed  ;  but  now  it  was  as  a  clap  of  thunder  in  my  ears. 

One  of  the  Guilford  men  had,  perhaps,  while  shaking 
with  the  same  ague  fit  that  affected  Amos,  struck  his 
musket  against  a  rock. 

As  if  it  had  been  the  report  of  a  gun,  those  in  the 
foremost  canoes  ceased  paddling,  and  gazed  around  sus- 
piciously. 

So  clear  was  the  night  that  I  could  even  see  the 
weapons  in  their  hands  as  the  painted  imps  prepared  for 
the  attack. 

Some  of  the  paddlers,  not  knowing  whence  the  sound 
proceeded,  and  fearing  to  venture  on,  sent  the  ashen 
blades  deep  in  the  water,  as  they  forced  their  light  craft 
backward,  with  the  result  that  before  one  could  have 
counted  thirty,  the  whole  fleet  was  jammed  together,  the 
current  setting  them  directly  towards  our  ambush. 

I  was  certain  now  had  come  the  time  when  the  word  to 
fire  would  be  given,  and  yet  the  major  remained  silent. 

We  could  hear  the  enemy  below  talking  rapidly  in  low 
tones,  as  if  discussing  the  cause  of  the  alarm,  and  then, 
some  decision  having  been  arrived  at,  the  canoes  were  put 
about,  —  the  foe  so  valiant  when  unprotected  women  and 
children  stood  before  them,  were  about  to  retreat  because 
of  a  noise  which  might  have  been  a  chipmunk ! 

It  was  while  all  this  light  craft  lay  in  a  mass,  the 
canoes  coming  closely  together  because  of  the  attempt 


THE  ATTACK.  39 

to  turn  them,  that  Israel  Putnam  said,  in  a  low,  sharp 
tone : 

"  Now,  boys  !     Don't  waste  a  bullet !  " 

I  question  if,  in  that  first  volley,  when  no  more  than 
thirty-five  balls  were  sent  towards  the  water,  as  small  a 
number  of  wounds  were  inflicted ;  some  of  the  bullets 
must  have  done  double  work,  and  I  believe,  in  fact,  I  am 
positive  in  my  own  mind,  that  more  than  fifty  of  the 
enemy  were  disabled. 

There  was  no  need  for  the  major  to  give  an  order  to 
reload. 

Every  one  of  us  knew  that  his  life  depended  upon  the 
quickness  of  his  movements  then. 

Now  was  our  advantage,  and  if  we  failed  to  take  it,  then 
indeed  were  we  undone. 

I  know  not  how  it  might  have  been  with  the  others, 
but  as  for  me,  I  was  already  ramming  the  balls  into  the 
barrel  of  my  musket  when  Molang's  crew  got  their  wits 
together  sufficiently  to  fire  in  our  direction,  and  then  I 
heard  Amos  laugh,  for  the  discharge  was  as  harmless  as  if 
the  weapons  had  been  pointed  towards  the  sky. 

Again  we  sent  a  shower  of  lead,  not  this  time  as  one 
man,  but  in  a  scattering  volley,  each  discharging  his 
weapon  as  soon  as  it  was  loaded,  and  again  do  I  believe 
that  more  than  one  bullet  did  double  work. 

It  seemed  as  if  in  every  canoe  were  two  or  three 
disabled  savages ;  yet  the  fire  was  returned,  and  four 
times  was  this  repeated  before  I  heard  a  cry  from  our 
men. 


40        WHEN  ISRAEL   PUTNAM  SERVED    THE    KING. 

Then  it  was  him  from  Guilford  who  had  unwittingly 
given  the  alarm,  and  an  instant  later  Sewatis,  who  had 
been  standing  near  to  Major  Putnam,  suddenly  dropped 
his  flint-lock. 

Twice  more,  six  volleys  in  all,  did  Molang's  crew  fire  at 
us,  and  then  I  believe  that  fiend  in  human  shape  began  to 
understand  how  few  we  were  in  numbers,  for  such  fact 
could  readily  be  seen  when  the  muskets  were  discharged 
at  intervals. 

We  heard  a  loud  word  of  command  from  him,  when 
suddenly  ten  or  twelve  canoes  were  detached  from  the 
mass  that  was  being  sent  in  hot  haste  up  South  Bay,  and, 
skirting  as  near  as  might  be  to  the  opposite  shore,  were 
making  as  if  to  attack  us  from  the  rear. 

It  was  Israel  Putman  who  commanded  our  forces, 
which  is  as  if  I  said  it  was  a  man  ready  for  any  emer- 
gency, and  watchful  ever  for  the  slightest  movement  on 
the  part  of  the  foe. 

Hardly  had  these  twelve  canoes  started  past  the  Elbow, 
when  he  ordered  Lieutenant  Durkee  to  take  twelve  men 
and  see  to  it  they  did  not  land. 

We  had  little  time  to  spend  on  this  party  who  were 
gone  to  protect  our  rear.  The  force  was  thus  weakened 
by  thirteen  men  ;  two  others  were  wounded,  and  there 
were  but  twenty  able  bodies  among  us. 

Even  though  we  had  done  our  best  before,  we  must 
make  yet  greater  exertions. 

We,  meaning  Amos  and  I,  had  discharged  our  muskets 
until  powder-horns  and  bullet-pouches  were  well-nigh  emp- 


THE   ATTACK.  4! 

tied,  and  then  the  last  of  the  canoes  had  disappeared 
around  the  point. 

It  was  time  to  get  some  ammunition,  and  I  went  from 
man  to  man,  asking  who  could  give  me  of  their  store, 
until  I  had  come  to  the  last,  and  learned  what  caused  me 
to  grow  even  more  timorous  than  when  I  first  knew  our 
little  band  of  thirty-five  was  to  attack  five  hundred  of 
Molang's  scoundrelly  savages,  —  our  powder  and  ball  were 
well-nigh  exhausted  ! 

"You  must  do  the  best  you  can  with  what  is  left,  lad," 
Major  Putnam  said,  hearing  me  tell  Amos  the  result  of 
the  mission.  "  Make  every  bullet  count,  and  then,  if  God 
wills,  we'll  stand  back  to  back  until  succour  comes  or  we 
fall." 

It  was  a  brave  speech ;  but  at  the  moment  I  would 
rather  have  had  powder  and  ball  than  all  his  heartening 
words,  for  there  was  behind  them  a  suggestion  not  at  all 
to  my  liking. 

"Remember  that  we  are  to  keep  one  bullet  each  for 
the  other,"  Amos  whispered  to  me,  in  a  tone  so  low  that 
the  major  could  not  have  overheard  him  had  he  made  the 
attempt. 

Then,  leaning  over  the  wall  of  rock,  pushing  away  here 
and  there  one  of  the  trees  which  had  marked  our  forti- 
fication, that  we  might  the  better  keep  watch  on  that 
stretch  of  water  directly  opposite  the  point,  we  waited, 
fully  believing  Molang  would  return  once  more,  when 
his  scoundrelly  crew  were  recovered  somewhat  from  the 
drubbing  they  had  received. 


42         WHEN  ISRAEL    PUTNAM  SERVED    THE   KING. 

Then  it  was  from  the  rear  we  heard  the  sound  of  firing, 
and  knew  Lieutenant  Durkee,  with  his  little  squad,  was 
doing  what  he  might  to  prevent  the  painted  foe  from 
landing. 

When,  after  perhaps  five  minutes,  the  rattle  of  mus- 
ketry died  away,  we  asked  ourselves,  hardly  daring  to  ask 
each  other,  if  he  had  succeeded  in  his  work,  been  cut 
down,  or  was  run  short  of  ammunition. 

Half  an  hour  later  we  knew  the  former  of  the  three 
possibilities  was  the  fact,  for  then  the  canoes  which  had 
lately  gone  down  the  bay  were  seen  creeping  up  near  the 
opposite  shore  to  rejoin  the  main  fleet,  and  they  were 
hardly  past  our  fortification  when  the  lieutenant  returned. 

He  had  repulsed  the  foe  without  having  lost  a  man. 

He  reported  that  his  task  had  been  an  easy  one ;  the 
savages,  cowardly  save  when  all  the  odds  are  in  their 
favour,  had  speedily  beat  a  retreat  when  he  made  the 
first  opposition  to  their  landing,  and  that  which  he  had 
done  was  as  if  he  had  been  driving  a  flock  of  sheep. 

As  before  the  coming  of  Molang's  horde,  everywhere 
was  silence. 

Again  it  seemed  as  if  we  were  alone  on  the  shore  of 
the  bay,  with  no  human  beings  near,  and  yet  we  knew 
that  less  than  a  mile  distant  were  those  who  thirsted  for 
our  blood,  and  would  strain  every  nerve  and  muscle  to  kill 
us. 

Now  were  the  scouts  sent  out  once  more,  and  we 
who  were  unharmed  resumed  our  task  of  watching  when 
nothing  was  to  be  seen. 


THE   ATTACK.  45 

Israel  Putnam  began  his  stealthy  pacing  to  and  fro, 
stopping  only  when  he  halted  beside  the  wounded  men  to 
make  certain  they  were  not  suffering  for  lack  of  anything 
which  we  might  give,  and  from  time  to  time  sending  forth 
one  on  the  scout. 

"Why  might  we  not  do  our  share  of  that  work?" 
Amos  asked,  suddenly,  of  me.  "  Surely  we  are  able, 
having  done  it  often  before,  and  I  warrant  you,  Zenas,  we 
could  perform  our  part  without  being  ashamed  before 
some  of  those  men  whom  I  have  seen  at  work." 

"We  may  not  do  it  because  the  major  has  bidden 
others,"  I  replied. 

"Yet  if  we  ask  as  a  favour,  he  might  permit  us." 

"  But  that  I  would  not  do.  Israel  Putnam  knows 
whether  we  are  to  be  trusted  or  not,  and  if  he  fails  to 
summon  us,  it  is  not  our  place  to  remind  him,  lest  perad- 
venture  he  may  say  we  are  of  value  only  in  our  own 
estimation." 

"  Almost  anything  would  be  better  than  lying  here, 
knowing  that  Molang's  crew  may  be  creeping  up  on  us 
each  instant." 

"They  would  creep  the  same  were  we  scouting." 

"Aye;  but  it  is  less  painful  to  know  a  thing,  than  to 
imagine  it,"  Amos  replied,  with  a  laugh  which  had  in  it 
very  little  of  mirth,  and  then  he  fell  silent. 

I  think  it  was  near  to  morning  when  all  those  who  had 
been  sent  out  to  spy  upon  the  enemy  came  back  at  the 
same  time,  and  we  could  have  guessed  the  news  they 
brought  before  the  foremost  reported  to  the  major : 


46        lt'//£Ar  ISRAEL    PCTXAM  SERVED    THE   A'/A'G. 

"  Both  the  Indians  and  Frenchmen  have  landed  and  are 
marching  this  way,  coming  in  such  order  as  to  surround 
our  force." 

For  the  moment  Israel  Putnam  appeared  to  me  as  if  he 
was  minded  to  give  them  battle  regardless  of  the  dispar- 
ity in  numbers,  but  then  there  must  have  come  into  his 
mind  —  for  he  was  not  a  careless  man  —  the  thought  of 
how  soon  a  battle  would  be  finished  should  we  begin  one, 
owing  to  our  lack  of  ammunition,  and,  in  an  instant,  as  it 
were,  his  plan  had  been  formed. 

Detailing  two  men  to  accompany  the  wounded,  he 
ordered  them  to  proceed  by  the  nearest  course  to  the 
fort. 

"As  for  ourselves,  sir?"  the  lieutenant  stopped  to  ask. 

"There  is  but  one  course  left  us,  and  that  is  to  beat 
a  retreat." 

It  was  done  as  quietly  and  leisurely  as  if  there  was  no 
reason  why  we  should  hasten. 

The  men  were  bidden  to  gather  up  their  belongings, 
and  to  follow  the  lieutenant  silently,  in  single  file. 

As  for  Israel  Putnam,  he  remained  in  the  rear,  and  I 
doubt  not  but  that  it  would  have  pleased  him  had  the 
enemy  come  so  near  as  to  give  good  excuse  for  a  brush. 

Amos  and  I  were  about  midway  in  the  line.  Because 
of  lacking  years,  I  suppose  it  was  fancied  we  might  also 
lack  courage,  and  it  hurt  me  that  we  were  not  given  a 
better  chance  to  show  Israel  Putnam  we  were  more  to  be 
depended  upon  than  those  men  from  Guilford,  who  were 
well  in  the  advance. 


THE   ATTACK.  49 

We  marched  silently  and  rapidly  for  upwards  of  an 
hour,  going  not  towards  the  fort,  but  rather  in  the 
direction  of  Deer  Pasture  Mountain,  to  avoid  the  enemy. 

It  seemed  positive  we  must  have  given  him  the  slip, 
when  suddenly,  from  out  among  the  foliage,  while  yet  no 
person  could  be  seen,  came  a  volley  of  musketry,  and  one 
of  our  small  band  fell. 


CHAPTER  III. 

DESERTING    THE    WOUNDED. 

WHEN  the  shower  of  lead  came  out  from  amid  the 
foliage   without   warning,    we    naturally   supposed 
some  portion  of  Molang's  forces  had  succeeded  in  swing- 
ing around  to  cut   off  our  retreat,   and   the   echoes  had 
hardly  died  away  when  Amos  whispered,  hoarsely  : 

"  Remember  to  save  the  last  bullet !  " 

In  view  of  the  fact  that  our  ammunition  was  so  well 
nigh  spent  we  could  not  afford  to  throw  away  a  single 
shot,  instead  of  replying  to  this  musket-fire  as  would 
ordinarily  have  been  done,  Israel  Putnam  gave  the  order 
to  "  Charge." 

We  had  been  marching  in  single  file,  but  when  the  first 
interruption  came  our  small  band  clustered  together  until, 
by  the  time  the  major  had  spoken,  we  were  a  compact 
body ;  and  although  it  was  no  pleasant  thing  to  make  a 
charge  amid  the  foliage,  upon,  as  we  supposed,  a  company 
who  would  skulk  from  tree  to  tree,  there  was  no  hesi- 
tation in  obeying  the  order. 

Before  we  were  well  in  motion,  however,  a  voice, 
coming  from  that  point  whence  the  firearms  had  been 
discharged,  cried  : 

5° 


DESERTING   THE   WOUNDED.  51 

«  Hold  !     We  are  friends  !  " 

Involuntarily  we  halted  the  merest  fraction  of  time,  and 
then  came  most  likely  to  all,  as  it  did  to  Amos  and  I,  the 
thought  that  this  was  but  a  trick  to  prevent  action  on  our 
part  until  another  volley  could  be  thrown  among  us  ;  and 
we  were  moving  forward  without  awaiting  a  second  word 
of  command,  when  Israel  Putnam  halted  the  force,  as  he 
shouted  to  the  unseen  detachment  who  had  treated  us  as 
foes  : 

"  If  we  be  friends,  as  you  say,  why  that  volley  ? " 

"We  are  from  Fort  Edward,"  the  voice  replied,  and, 
almost  at  the  same  instant,  a  British  officer  stepped  into 
view.  "The  scouts  brought  in  word  of  how  hotly  you 
were  pressed,  and  we  are  sent  to  cover  your  retreat." 

There  was  not  a  man  among  us  who  could  well  control 
his  temper  at  this  moment.  We  provincials  had  little 
faith  in  the  abilities  of  the  trained  British  soldiers  in  such 
warfare  as  must  be  waged  when  savages  were  our  foes, 
and  this  blunder,  which  might  have  cost  a  dozen  lives, 
was  inexcusable. 

Even  Israel  Putnam  lost  control  of  his  temper,  and 
cried,  hotly,  while  the  red-coated  officer  was  advancing : 

"  Whether  you  be  friends  or  foes,  you  deserve  death  for 
doing  so  slight  execution  with  as  fair  a  shot.  Had  we 
been  of  the  French,  with  the  ordinary  backing  of  savages, 
that  volley  must  have  been  your  last." 

The  King's  troops  had  as  little  confidence  in  us  provin- 
cials as  we  in  them,  and  this  officer's  face  flushed  at  being 
thus  reproved,  —  not  for  the  blunder,  but  because,  while 


52         WHEN  ISRAEL   PUTNAM  SERVED    THE   KING. 

firing  from  ambush,  he  had  succeeded  in  wounding  only 
one  man. 

He  came  towards  the  major  with  the  air  of  one  who 
has  a  grievance,  and  during  ten  minutes  or  more  the  two 
held  converse. 

We  of  the  rank  and  file  could  only  guess  at  what 
passed  between  our  major  and  the  King's  officer,  but  in 
our  minds  we  knew  who  was  the  better  soldier,  so  far  as 
this  kind  of  warfare  went,  and  I  felt  much  as  did  Amos, 
when  he  whispered  to  me  : 

"  I  only  hope  that  red-coated  gentleman  will  hear  all 
which  I  believe  is  in  Israel  Putnam's  mind  to  say." 

While  these  two  were  talking,  the  older  provincials 
dressed  the  wound  of  him  who  had  been  stricken  down, 
which  fortunately  was  a  slight  one,  and  Amos  and  I 
were  watching  the  operation  when  our  major  called, 
sharply  : 

"  Zenas  Seabury  ! 

I  started  as  if  this  summons  was  a  reproof,  and  then, 
immediately  after,  realising  that  I  had  committed  no  fault, 
stepped  forward,  Amos  following,  although  his  name  had 
not  been  called. 

The  older  members  of  our  division  looked  jealously  upon 
us  when  the  major,  having  parted  company  with  the  Brit- 
ish officer,  stepped  back  several  paces,  lest  any  of  our 
people  should  hear  what  was  said. 

"  Although  you  two  be  but  lads,  I  know  the  stock  from 
whence  you  sprung,  and  can  trust  you  better  than  some 
of  those  who  claim  to  have  had  more  experience.  The 


DESERTING    THE    WOUNDED.  53 

detachment  will,  of  course,  move  towards  Fort  Edward, 
with  the  idea  that,  before  arriving  there,  we  shall  be  joined 
by  the  other  two  divisions.  It  is  my  purpose  to  send  out 
as  many  as  can  be  safely  spared,  to  make  known  to  Major 
Rogers  and  Captain  Dalyell  the  reason  for  our  retreat,  lest 
they  be  cut  off.  Are  you  two  lads  of  the  mind  to  venture 
on  the  work  ?  " 

"Aye,  sir,  that  we  are,"  I  answered,  promptly,  for  the 
service  suited  me  far  better  than  this  playing  at  the  sol- 
dier when  we  had  little  or  no  idea  of  military  duty  ;  and 
Amos  stepped  more  closely  to  my  side,  in  order  that  the 
reply  might  be  taken  as  his. 

"  Heed  well  the  dangers  which  must  be  encountered  ; 
remember  that  we  are  most  likely  surrounded  by  French 
and  Indians  to  the  number  of  perhaps  a  thousand  or  more  ; 
that  in  event  of  failure  a  cruel  death  must  follow." 

This  Israel  Putnam  said  almost  as  if  he  would  dissuade 
us  from  accepting  the  service  he  himself  had  proposed. 

"  We  know  all  that  full  well,  sir,"  I  replied,  taking 
Amos  by  the  hand,  that  it  should  appear  as  if  both  had 
spoken.  "  You  are  kind  enough  to  say  you  know  the 
stock  from  which  we  have  sprung.  You  also  know,  sir, 
what  we  can  do,  for  this  is  not  the  first  time  we  have 
been  in  your  company,  although  never  before  as  a  King's 
soldier." 

"  Aye,  lad ;  save  for  that  I  had  not  proposed  the  enter- 
prise." 

"Then  you  can  understand,  sir,"  I  continued,  embold- 
ened by  his  kindly  manner,  "  that  we  would  willingly  face 


54        WHEN  ISRAEL   PUTNAM  SERVED    THE   KING. 

any  danger  rather  than  refuse  whatsoever  you  might  pro- 
pose." 

"  I  believe  you,  lad,  and  it  is  because  of  that,  that  I 
point  out  all  the  dangers,  preferring  rather  that  you  should 
go  of  your  own  free  will  than  because  I  sent  you." 

"  And  in  good  truth,  sir,  such  service  is  more  to  our 
liking  than  remaining  with  the  company,  when  we  can  do 
no  better  than  the  veriest  coward  among  them,  and  even 
that  is  denied  while  the  ammunition  runs  so  low,"  Amos 
replied. 

"  It  is  well  said,  lad,  and  we  will  let  that  end  the  matter. 
I  can  give  you  no  instructions  other  than  to  find  Rogers 
and  Dalyell  as  soon  as  may  be.  Tell  them  we  are  making 
our  way  as  slowly  as  is  consistent  with  safety  towards  Fort 
Edward,  and,  if  possible,  will  camp  near  Fort  Anne,  on 
Clear  River,  where  I  hope  they  may  come  up  with  us. 
You  shall  be  plentifully  supplied  with  ammunition,  because 
it  is  no  crime  to  lighten  the  pouches  of  the  redcoats,  who 
should  have  used  their  charges  with  better  results  when 
they  fired  upon  us  by  mistake.  Consult  your  best  judg- 
ment as  to  how  the  mission  may  be  accomplished.  It  was 
Rogers's  intention  to  have  halted  within  ten  or  twelve  miles 
from  where  we  made  our  stand,  and  Dalyell  must  be  near- 
about  that  vicinity." 

He  had  scarce  ceased  speaking,  when  two  red-coated 
soldiers  advanced,  having  been  sent  most  likely  by  their 
officer,  to  fill  our  powder-horns  and  shot-pouches  to  over- 
flowing. 

A  third  came  forward  with  such  store  of  dried  venison 


DESERTING    THE   WOUNDED.  55 

and  corn  meal  as  could  be  spared,  and  we  were  ready  for 
the  enterprise. 

Amos  would  have  set  out  immediately ;  but  I  held  him 
in  check  a  moment,  that  we  might  learn  if  the  major  had 
any  further  commands  for  us. 

It  was  as  if  we  no  longer  had  an  existence  so  far  as 
Israel  Putnam  was  concerned. 

He  was  talking  with  two  of  the  older  provincials,  most 
likely  sending  them  out  on  the  same  mission  with  which 
we  were  entrusted,  and  I  hesitated  no  longer. 

"  You  are  right,  Amos.  We  will  go  at  once,"  and,  with- 
out a  thought  of  leave-taking,  we  struck  off  into  the  wilder- 
ness in  the  direction  from  which  the  squad  had  just  come. 

If  Amos  Cowden  and  I  had  had  no  previous  experience 
in  such  work,  I  doubt  not  but  that  we  would  soon  have 
been  gobbled  up  by  Molang's  painted  imps,  for  they  were 
everywhere  around  us,  as  we  learned  before  having  left 
the  detachment  a  mile  in  the  rear. 

These  murdering  villains  were  as  thick  as  blackberries 
in  September,  and  one  had  need  to  take  heed  to  his  every 
step  lest  suddenly  he  come  full  upon  one. 

No  less  than  eight  did  we  see  while  we  traversed  barely 
more  than  a  mile  in  distance,  and  I  thought  —  for  Amos 
and  I  dared  not  speak  one  to  the  other  even  in  a  whisper, 
—  that  perchance  we  were  in  no  greater  danger  than  the 
detachment,  for  it  seemed  to  me  they  were  already  com- 
pletely surrounded. 

After  a  distance  of  two  miles  more  had  been  covered,  it 
was  as  if  we  had  passed  the  danger-line,  and  were  beyond 


56        WHEN  ISRAEL    PUTNAM  SERVED    THE   KING. 

the  painted  scouts,  for  now  we  neither  heard  their  move- 
ments nor  saw  a  fresh  trail,  and  by  this  time  it  was  nigh 
to  noon,  although  we  had  started  early  in  the  morning. 

When  one  considers  well  all  that  may  be  around  him 
before  he  dares  advance  a  single  step,  the  progress  is 
exceedingly  slow,  and  we  were  minded  to  use  the  excess 
of  precaution  rather  than  not  enough. 

It  seemed  to  me  that  we  would  be  safe  in  halting  suffi- 
ciently long  to  eat  a  leisurely  meal,  for  since  the  night 
previous  we  had  partaken  of  food  only  in  fragments,  now 
and  then  a  mouthful. 

We  were  tired,  rather  because  of  anxiety  than  on 
account  of  actual  labour  performed,  and  ate  slowly,  that 
we  might  enjoy  our  halt  ;  but  it  was  as  if  we  had  no  more 
than  begun  before  certain  sounds  proclaimed  the  approach 
of  man  or  beast. 

It  can  well  be  imagined  that  we  took  our  precautions 
as  if  positive  the  noises  were  caused  by  the  former,  and, 
after  hurriedly  obliterating  all  signs  of  having  halted  in 
that  place,  we  crouched  behind  the  trees,  for  whoever 
approached  was  coming  directly  towards  us,  with  such 
lack  of  prudence  as  caused  me  to  believe  they  were 
neither  Indians  nor  of  our  party. 

Then,  when  perhaps  five  minutes  had  passed,  to  my 
surprise  we  saw  advancing  those  two  of  Israel  Putnam's 
command  who  had  been  detailed  to  accompany  the 
wounded  to  Fort  Edward. 

We  stepped  into  full  view,  and  there  was  an  incautious 
exclamation  of  satisfaction  from  the  men  as  they  saw  us. 


DESERTING    THE   WOUNDED.  59 

"  Have  you  taken  leave  of  your  wits  that  you  speak  so 
loudly  here,  when  we  know,  beyond  a  peradventure,  the 
woods  are  filled  with  Molang's  crew  ? "  Amos  asked,  in  an 
angry  whisper,  although  these  newcomers  were  older  than 
we  by  many  years. 

"  You  are  frightened  without  cause,  lad,"  one  of  them 
replied.  "  Molang's  forces  are  making  straight  for  the 
fort." 

"  Then  they  have  left  a  good  many  behind,  for  we  have 
seen  not  less  than  twenty  scouts  since  leaving  Major 
Putnam's  command  ;  but  how  is  it  you  are  here  ?  Where 
are  the  wounded  men  ?  " 

In  an  instant  the  expression  on  the  faces  of  these  two 
changed,  and  I  knew  without  being  told  that  some  disaster 
had  overtaken  them. 

"  We  were  pursued  by  the  savages  before  having  gone 
two  miles,"  one  of  them  said,  "and  to  escape  was  impos- 
sible, while  we  remained  with  the  wounded." 

"  But  surely  you  did  not  desert  them  ?  "  I  cried  ;  and 
these  cowards  must  have  understood  what  was  in  my 
mind,  for  they  said,  like  men  who  excuse  themselves  to 
lawful  accusers  : 

"  It  would  have  been  death  for  all  four  had  we  re- 
mained, and  the  wounded  themselves  proposed  that  we 
leave  them.  Better  two  escape  than  that  four  be  killed." 

"  I  would  not  say  that,  had  I  been  one  of  the  four," 
Amos  muttered,  speaking  so  low  that  I  question  whether 
his  words  were  overheard  save  by  me. 

"  When  the  pursuit  became  so  hot  that  we  knew  it  was 


6O        WHEN  ISRAEL   PUTNAM  SERVED    THE   KING. 

impossible  to  escape,  Sewatis  insisted  we  should  leave 
them  to  their  fate,"  one  of  the  men  said,  speaking  hur- 
riedly, as  if  he  would  tell  all  his  story  before  it  was  possi- 
ble for  us  to  check  him.  "  Had  there  been  any  chances 
we  could  have  saved  their  lives,  this  thing  would  not  have 
happened  ;  but,  as  it  was,  death  staring  four  in  the  face  if 
we  remained,  and  the  chance  that  two  might  escape  if  we 
fled,  we  followed  the  Indian's  advice.  So  close  were 
Molang's  crew,  that  ere  we  were  out  of  sight  two  brutes 
came  up,  and  before  he  was  tomahawked  I  saw  our  com- 
rade fire  three  shots,  each  of  which  marked  the  death  of 
one  of  the  foe.  By  that  time  we  had  succeeded  in  putting 
a  greater  distance  between  us  and  the  enemy,  and  saw 
nothing  more  ;  but  it  seemed  certain  Sewatis  was  reserved 
as  prisoner,  because  no  further  shots  were  fired  while  we 
were  in  that  vicinity.  Which  way  are  you  two  going  ? " 

"  Down  the  shore,  to  open  communication  with  Major 
Rogers,"  I  replied,  curtly,  not  caring  to  hold  further  con- 
verse with  these  men  who  would  abandon  helpless  com- 
rades without  making  one  effort  towards  saving  their  lives. 

"  And  Major  Putnam's  force  ? " 

"  Is  surrounded  by  a  thousand  or  more  French  and 
Indians,  and  trying  to  gain  Fort  Edward." 

"  Then  it  would  seem  as  if  there  was  little  hope  we 
could  rejoin  them  ? "  the  man  who  told  the  story  of  the 
desertion  asked. 

I  nodded  my  head,  but  made  no  reply. 

"  It  will,  perhaps,  be  better  that  we  remain  with  you  ;  " 
and  one  would  have  said  from  the  manner  in  which  the 


DESERTING    THE  WOUNDED.  6 1 

man  spoke  that  he  believed  we  should  be  pleased  with 
such  comrades. 

I  glanced  towards  Amos  and  fancied  I  read  from  the 
expression  on  his  face  thoughts  similar  to  mine,  therefore 
said,  without  compunction,  even  though  these  cowards 
were  our  elders  : 

"We  shall  be  better  content  alone,  and  the  danger  is 
far  too  great  for  you  to  take  part  in." 

The  man  appeared  as  if  astonished  because  we  did  not 
welcome  his  company,  and  made  reply : 

"  If  the  woods  are  so  full  of  Indians  as  you  think, 
surely  there  is  greater  safety  in  numbers." 

It  angered  me  that  he  should  not  understand  when  I 
had  already  spoken  so  plainly,  and,  without  further  care  as 
to  whether  his  feelings  were  hurt,  I  said,  sharply : 

"  When  the  numbers  are  increased  by  those  who  desert 
wounded  comrades,  Amos  Cowden  and  I  would  rather 
travel  alone." 

This  time  the  fellow  got  through  his  thick  head  some- 
what of  my  meaning,  and  for  a  moment  I  fancied  he  was 
on  the  point  of  giving  way  to  anger,  which  would  have 
troubled  me  but  little ;  but  he  checked  himself,  and 
turned  aside  to  speak  with  his  companion,  whereupon  I 
motioned  to  Amos,  and,  before  the  two  comrades  were 
well  aware  of  our  movements,  we  had  slipped  off  among 
the  foliage. 

"  Better  take  no  rest  at  all,  than  have  as  companions 
such  as  they,"  Amos  whispered,  in  a  tone  of  disgust,  and 
we  finished  our  meal  while  travelling. 


02        WHEN  ISRAEL    PUTNAM  SERVED    THE   KING. 

We  were  making  as  nearly  as  we  could,  not  being  thor- 
oughly familiar  with  the  country,  a  straight  course  for 
Black  Mountain,  counting  on  continuing  along  its  base, 
beyond  Sugar  Loaf,  to  that  portion  of  Lake  Champlain 
opposite  Bluff  Point,  on  the  shores  of  Lake  George, 

where  was  a  portage  ; 

and  it  was  reasonable 


to  suppose  Major  Rogers  would  have  to  halt  there,  know- 
ing Molang's  crew  might  cross  at  that  point. 

It  seemed  now  as  if  we  might  travel  more  rapidly,  for, 
after  having  left  the  cowards  two  miles  behind,  there  were 
no  signs  of  the  enemy,  and  it  appeared  certain  all  had 
come  over  from  Lake  George  by  the  Shelving  Rock 
Portage. 

Now  we  pushed  on  at  our  best  pace,  spending  but  little 
time  in  reconnoitring  the  ground,  and  before  nightfall 
had  accomplished  the  mission. 


DESERTING    THE   WOUNDED.  63 

Major  Rogers's  force  was  camped  in  the  locality  we  had 
decided  they  would  select,  and  his  scouts  were  making 
a  circle  roundabout  the  place,  fully  four  miles  from  the 
main  body. 

In  this  case,  the  major  was  neglecting  no  precautions, 
and  it  would  have  been  better  had  he  continued  to  act 
with  as  much  prudence. 

As  a  matter  of  course,  we  were  given  a  friendly  recep- 
tion, and,  after  having  delivered  our  message,  were  told 
that  Captain  Dalyell  was  yet  three  miles  further  on. 

"  I  will  send  some  one  else  to  warn  him.  You  have 
travelled  far  enough  to  make  up  this  day's  work,"  he  said, 
kindly ;  and  both  Amos  and  I  were  willing  to  rest,  for 
there  was  no  honour  to  be  gained  in  pushing  ahead  to 
the  captain,  since  all  danger  was  now  apparently  passed. 
I  had  feared  Major  Rogers  might  hesitate  to  turn  back  in 
response  to  Israel  Putnam's  request ;  but  he  was  not  such 
a  fool,  and  word  was  given  that  the  command  would  set  out 
as  soon  after  daybreak  as  Captain  Dalyell's  force  arrived. 

Having  been  served  with  a  bountiful  supply  of  deer 
meat,  we  two  laid  ourselves  down  to  make  up  for  the 
sleep  we  had  lost  on  the  night  previous,  and  there  was 
no  thought  in  my  mind  but  that  we  would  rejoin  Israel 
Putnam,  in  company  with  this  force,  until  Amos  whis- 
pered, just  as  my  eyes  were  closing  in  slumber : 

"  Is  it  your  purpose  to  stay  here  until  this  detachment 
sets  out  ? " 

"Why  should  we  not  ?"  I  asked,  in  surprise. 

"  Then  you  count  on  marching  with  them  ?" 


64        HV/E.V  ISRAEL    PUTXAM  SERVED    THE   KIXG. 

"It  will  be  safer." 

<rOf  that  I  am  not  so  certain.  There  are  too  many  red 
uniforms  here  to  please  me,  and  surely  you  and  I  have 
seen  enough  of  the  King's  disciplined  soldiers  to  under- 
stand that  they  are  not  pleasant  companions  at  such  a 
time.  I  have  no  desire  to  lose  my  hair  because  of  their 
blundering  through  the  forest  with  a  noise  sufficient  to 
give  the  alarm  a  mile  away." 

"What  do  you  propose?"  I  asked,  not  pleased  with 
the  idea  of  parting  company  with  this  force,  even  though 
there  were  redcoats  among  them. 

"  That  we  gain  what  sleep  we  can  'twixt  now  and  mid- 
night, and  then  set  out  by  ourselves." 

"  Such  a  course  may  not  be  to  Major  Rogers's  liking." 

"  Where  will  be  the  harm  if  he  fails  to  approve  of  it  ? 
We  are  under  Israel  Putnam's  command,  and  have  no 
orders  from  him  to  stay  with  this  force.  Our  mission 
has  been  accomplished.  It  now  remains  for  us  to  return 
to  our  proper  command." 

"  If  your  mind  is  set  on  such  a  course,  I  will  do  as  you 
propose,  although  it  does  not  seem  wise." 

"  Show  me  how  much  wisdom  there  is  in  loitering,  and 
my  mouth  is  closed." 

This  I  could  not  do,  for  I  knew  full  well  what  a  danger- 
ous companion  a  redcoat  was  in  the  forest,  and,  failing  in 
any  reasonable  argument,  I  allowed  the  matter  to  remain 
as  my  comrade  had  proposed. 

We  would  set  out  at  midnight,  and  join  the  Connecticut 
men  under  Israel  Putnam. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

SEWATIS. 

*  I  ^HE  men  of  Rogers's  command,  with  whom  we  talked 

-*•  before  laying  down  for  a  nap,  did  not  appear  to 
think  the  danger  which  threatened  the  English  forces,  in 
this  vicinity,  to  be  very  great. 

It  was  all  in  vain  that  Amos  and  I  repeated  what  the 
scouts  had  reported  regarding  the  strength  of  the  French 
and  their  Indian  allies,  for  each  man  would  hark  back  to 
the  statement  we  had  made  concerning  our  attack  upon 
the  greater  portion  of  Molang's  crew. 

It  was  as  if  they  set  us  down  as  liars  on  one  point 
or  the  other. 

If  Major.  Putnam  had  really  attacked  and  driven  off 
Molang  and  his  painted  hordes  with  but  thirty-five  men, 
and  only  a  small  supply  of  ammunition,  then  there  were 
nowhere  near  as  many  savages  as  we  had  stated. 

In  case  it  was  to  be  allowed  that  the  reports  brought  in 
by  our  scouts  were  correct,  then  had  we  spoken  falsely  in 
telling  of  the  attack. 

I  tired  of  trying  to  make  the  thick-headed  ones  believe 
that  both  stories  were  absolutely  true,  and  gave  up  the 

65 


66        WHEX  ISRAEL   PUTXAM  SERVED    THE   KIXG. 

task  after  ten  minutes,  while  Amos  held  his  peace,  as  if  in 
a  fit  of  the  sulks,  from  the  first  moment  one  of  his  state- 
ments was  discredited. 

Do  not  understand  me  as  saying  that  Major  Rogers 
looked  upon  our  report  as  being  false ;  he  apparently 
accepted  every  word  in  good  truth,  but  I  am  of  the 
opinion  he  privately  believed  we  had  stretched  the  story 
considerably  in  order  to  make  ourselves  appear  in  the  light 
of  heroes. 

All  this  I  repeat  here  lest  it  be  supposed  Amos  and 
I  proposed  to  return  to  Israel  Putnam's  command  alone, 
simply  because  of  the  English  soldiers  under  Major  Rogers. 

It  is  true  this  was  one  strong  reason,  not  because  we 
would  belittle  his  Majesty's  forces  as  soldiers,  but  owing 
to  the  fact  that  they  did  not  understand  Indian  tactics,  and, 
consequently,  were  dangerous  companions  in  the  forest. 

However,  as  has  been  said,  we  decided  to  return  alone, 
and  to  such  end  asked  the  corporal  of  the  guard  to  see 
that  we  were  turned  out  shortly  before  midnight. 

It  lacked  nearly  an  hour  of  that  time  when  he  shook  us 
roughly,  as  was  necessary  because  of  the  heaviness  of  our 
slumbers,  and  we  arose  slowly,  I  for  one  regretting  that 
we  had  decided  to  push  on  alone,  since  we  were  thus 
deprived  of  so  much  sleep  as  seemed  necessary. 

Once  being  fully  awake,  however,  there  was  no  thought 
in  our  minds  of  lying  down  again,  and,  after  begging  such 
a  quantity  of  smoked  venison  as  would  suffice  to  provide 
us  with  food  during  the  next  four  and  twenty  hours,  we 
set  out  on  the  return. 


SEWATIS.  67 

Major  Rogers  had  made  no  objection  to  our  departure ; 
and  I  fancied,  because  of  our  willingness  to  undertake  the 
journey  alone  when  we  might  have  ample  escort,  he  was 
more  than  ever  inclined  to  doubt  certain  portions  of  our 
report. 

It  was  almost  as  light  as  at  noonday,  save  where  the 
shadows  were  most  dense,  and  with  the  big,  round  moon 
as  a  guide  he  would  be  worse  than  a  fool  who  could  go 
astray. 

It  was  not  likely  Molang's  crew  had  come  this  way, 
even  though  that  crafty  leader  had  fullest  information 
regarding  these  two  divisions  which  lay  between  him  and 
Israel  Putnam's  men.  He  would  remain  where  he  was,  or 
press  on  towards  the  fort,  content  to  wait  until  Major 
Rogers's  force  came  to  him,  as  they  must  finally  do. 

Therefore,  as  Amos  and  I  reckoned,  a  full  two-thirds 
of  the  distance  could  be  traversed  without  much  fear  of 
being  molested,  and,  once  well  clear  of  the  encampment, 
we  pressed  forward  rapidly,  arriving  at  what  we  believed 
to  be  dangerous  ground  shortly  before  sunrise. 

Then,  the  moon  having  set,  it  was  so  dark  that  I 
insisted  on  remaining  where  we  were  until  the  day  broke, 
rather  than  take  the  chances  of  coming  suddenly  upon  a 
band  of  savages,  and  two  hours  later  we  were  not  sorry 
for  having  done  so. 

It  can  well  be  supposed  that  we  had  no  inclination  to 
indulge  in  more  slumber,  but  we  disposed  of  ourselves  in 
whatsoever  manner  was  most  comfortable,  with  all  due 
regard  to  safety,  and  breakfasted  bountifully  on  such  fare 


68      ;r//£\v  ISRAEL  PUTXAM  SERVED  THE  KIXG. 

as  we  had  procured  before  leaving  Major  Rogers' s  encamp- 
ment. 

Before  the  new  day  had  fully  come,  we  could  see  close 
around  us  such  signs  as  told  that  we  must  be  in  the  very 
midst  of  Molang's  friends. 

The  trail  was  fresh  on  every  hand,  as  we  peered 
anxiously  out  from  our  hiding-place  in  the  thicket,  and, 
even  as  we  gazed,  the  odour  of  smoke  came  strong  to  our 
nostrils. 

There  was  no  need  for  me  to  give  words  to  what  was  in 
my  mind. 

I  glanced  towards  Amos,  and  could  read  from  his  face 
that  he  understood  how  narrowly  we  had  escaped  walking 
directly  upon  enemies  who  found  greater  pleasure  in  the 
capture  of  one  man  than  the  killing  of  three,  because  in 
the  former  case  they  could  satisfy  their  love  of  inflicting 
torture  upon  the  helpless. 

Even  though  we  were  in  such  a  dangerous  locality, 
it  was  absolutely  necessary  we  incur  yet  greater  peril, 
for  our  very  lives  depended  upon  knowing  whether  we 
were  near  to  the  main  body  of  savages,  or  only  a  party  of 
scouts.  And  this  information  must  be  gained  at  once, 
before  the  painted  friends  were  fully  astir  for  mischief. 

It  is  best  not  to  spend  too  much  time  thinking  of  such 
a  task,  lest  one  grow  timorous,  therefore  I  started  at 
once,  wriggling  my  way  through  the  underbrush  even  as 
our  enemies  would  have  done,  and,  as  I  flatter  myself, 
moving  with  as  little  noise  as  any  of  Molang's  evil  ones. 

In  less  than  twenty  minutes,  even  at  our  slow  method 


SEWATIS.  69 

of  advance,  we  had  arrived  where  we  could  have  a  full 
view  of  the  savages,  so  near  had  we  unwittingly  come  to 
them  in  the  darkness,  and  with  the  first  glimpse  I  was 
like  to  have  cried  out  in  sorrowful  surprise. 

Tied  by  green  withes  to  a  tree,  in  such  position  that 
he  could  move  neither  hand  nor  foot,  was  Sevvatis,  the 
friendly  Indian,  whom  those  cowardly  curs  we  met  had 
deserted  while  wounded,  to  face,  with  his  brave  compan- 
ion, their  bloodthirsty  pursuers. 

The  white  man  had  sold  his  life  at  a  good  price,  as  the 
cowards  told  us,  having  killed  three  of  the  redskins  before 
they  buried  a  hatchet  in  his  brain,  and  Sewatis,  he  who 
had  ever  been  a  friend  to  Amos  and  I,  was  to  taste  of 
the  torture. 

That  his  suffering  would  come  soon  I  had  little  doubt, 
for  these  fiends  could  not  burden  themselves  with  a 
prisoner  long;  and  instantly  the  thought  flashed  into  my 
mind  that  it  was  our  solemn  duty  to  give  him  aid. 

While  helpless,  he  had  been  deserted  by  white  men,  and 
now  white  boys  should  show  him  they  were  not  of  such 
cowardly  kidney. 

Again  I  looked  at  Amos,  and  again  he  nodded  his  head. 

Even  though  we  were  willing,  I  failed  to  understand 
how  we  might  give  the  poor  fellow  aid. 

There  were  eight  savages  in  the  party,  six  of  whom 
appeared  to  be  yet  asleep,  while  the  two  who  had  built 
the  fire  were  moving  to  and  fro  in  such  a  manner  that 
we  could  not  so  much  as  have  advanced  a  dozen  paces 
towards  them  without  being  discovered. 


70        WHEN  ISRAEL    PUTNAM  SERVED    THE   KING. 

It  was  plain  that  nothing  could  be  done  at  once,  and 
yet  we  might  expect  that  the  number  of  the  enemy  would 
be  added  to  rather  than  diminished  as  time  wore  on. 

Amos  touched  me  on  the  shoulder,  and,  as  I  looked 
around,  pointed  to  his  powder-horn  and  then  his  musket, 
as  if  to  say  we  might  succeed  by  making  a  sudden  attack. 

I  shook  my  head  decidedly,  for  such  a  wild  plan  was 
not  to  be  thought  of,  unless  we  were  disposed  to  sacrifice 
our  own  lives  with  but  little  hope  of  being  able  to  accom- 
plish the  purpose. 

As  well  as  could  be  done  by  gestures,  I  gave  him  to 
understand  we  must  wait,  in  the  hope  matters  might  take 
a  turn  in  our  favour,  and  it  was  plain  to  be  seen  that  he 
had  little  faith  in  delay. 

I  knew  full  well,  however,  that,  if  we  should  empty  our 
muskets  with  deadly  aim,  we  would  have  six  savages  upon 
us  before  we  could  reload,  and  no  one  might  say  how 
many  more  were  within  ear-shot. 

It  was  heart-breaking  work,  crouching  there  in  the  un- 
derbrush, not  daring  so  much  as  to  draw  a  long  breath, 
for  already  was  the  torture  beginning  for  Sewatis. 

Neither  of  the  two  Indians  passed  without  dealing  a 
blow,  or  otherwise  ill-treating  him,  and  when  the  \vhole 
crew  were  awake  the  party  set  about  hurling  their  knives 
and  tomahawks  at  the  helpless  prisoner,  taking  good  care, 
meanwhile,  not  to  inflict  a  deadly  blow. 

Sewatis  was  bleeding  from  a  dozen  slight  wounds  before 
the  fiends  devoured  the  morning  meal,  and  both  Amos 
and  I  could  see  that  he  had  nerved  himself  for  the  worst. 


SEWATIS.  73 

It  was  positive  he  would  not  give  the  murdering 
scoundrels  the  satisfaction  of  hearing  from  his  lips  so 
much  as  a  moan  of  pain. 

As  I  watched  this  man  facing  the  most  horrible  of 
deaths,  the  thought  came  into  my  mind  that  we  might 
give  him  some  slight  relief  of  mind  by  announcing  our 
presence,  and  even  at  the  moment  an  opportunity  pre- 
sented itself. 

He  was  staring  vacantly  in  our  direction ;  the  savages 
were  intent  upon  the  half-cooked  meat  they  were  pulling 
from  off  the  embers,  and  not  a  single  one  facing  us. 

At  risk  of  discovery  I  parted  the  foliage  from  in  front 
of  me,  and  waved  my  hand. 

Instantly  the  look  of  vacancy  fled  from  his  eyes,  and  in 
its  place  came  one  of  relief  and  hope. 

Even  though  we  failed  in  our  purpose,  we  had  shown 
our  willingness  to  aid,  and,  after  the  treatment  he  had 
received  from  those  who  deserted  him  and  his  comrade, 
this  must  have  been  gratifying  to  the  poor  fellow. 

Now,  watching  him  closely,  I  understood  he  was  re- 
volving some  plan  in  his  mind,  and  from  that  instant 
kept  my  eyes  fixed  upon  him,  ready  for  the  first  showing 
he  should  make  of  his  thoughts. 

When  perhaps  five  minutes  had  passed,  he  looked 
meaningly  towards  the  spot  where  we  were  concealed, 
and  then  began  taunting  his  captors  with  cowardice  in 
trying  to  starve  him  into  displaying  some  sign  of 
weakness. 

Neither  Amos  nor  I  could  understand  all  he  said,  for 


74        WHEX  ISRAEL   PUTXAM  SERVED    THE   A'fXG. 

he  spoke  in  a  language  which  differed  somewhat  from 
his  own,  but  we  could  gather  here  and  there  enough 
to  give  us  the  meaning. 

He  told  them  what  we  all  knew,  that  Molang  himself 
fed  his  prisoners  generously  before  torturing  them  to 
death,  because  it  afforded  him  no  pleasure  in  seeing 
a  weak  man  give  way  suddenly,  thus  depriving  him  of 
perhaps  several  hours'  pleasure ;  that  a  strong  captive 
suffered  more  under  the  torture,  and  he  had  partaken 
of  no  food  for  twenty-four  hours. 

In  short,  he  made  out  the  case  as  if  his  own  desire  was 
to  please  them,  declaring  that  he  preferred  to  go  fasting 
to  death,  since  relief  would  thus  come  the  sooner ;  but  it 
sorrowed  him  to  be  in  the  power  of  such  cowards  that 
eight  were  afraid  of  one. 

I  failed  to  understand  what  he  was  aiming  at,  but  soon 
saw  that  his  taunts  were  having  the  desired  effect. 

Before  the  savages  had  satisfied  their  own  hunger  a 
short  consultation  was  held  among  them,  with  the  result 
that  Sewatis  was  set  free  from  the  bonds,  but  closely 
guarded,  lest  he  should  make  a  sudden  dash  for  liberty. 

The  wily  prisoner  affected  to  be  exceedingly  weak  ;  it 
was  as  if  he  could  not  put  one  foot  before  another,  and 
had  not  two  of  Molang's  followers  supported  him  I  believe 
of  a  verity  he  would  have  fallen  to  the  ground,  in  order 
the  better  to  carry  out  his  plan. 

He  was  given  a  place  near  the  fire,  closely  surrounded, 
however,  and  allowed  to  take  from  the  embers  several 
slices  of  meat,  which  he  devoured  as  if  famishing. 


SEWATIS.  75 

There  was  no  question  but  that  all  this  was  being  done 
in  furtherance  of  some  plan  he  had  formed,  and  I  ventured 
to  whisper  to  Amos  that  we  must  be  on  the  alert  for  any 
sudden  move  Sewatis  might  make. 

It  was  well  I  warned  my  comrade,  otherwise  we  might 
have  been  caught  napping  at  the  very  instant  quick  action 
was  necessary  on  our  part. 

Sewatis  ate  in  a  ravenous  manner  for  five  minutes  or 
more,  when  suddenly  he  grasped  the  musket  of  the  Indian 
seated  nearest  to  him,  leaped  to  his  feet,  and  brought  down 
the  clubbed  weapon  on  the  head  of  its  owner. 

One  could  hardly  have  counted  three  from  "the  instant 
he  made  the  first  movement  until  the  savage  lay  dead  ; 
but  short  though  the  time  was,  we  acted,  because  of  being 
on  the  alert  for  something  of  the  kind. 

My  musket  was  already  levelled,  the  barrel  resting  over 
a  stout  twig,  with  the  bead  drawn  on  the  beast  to  the 
right  of  Sewatis,  and  I  fired,  the  report  of  my  weapon 
mingling  with  that  of  Amos' s. 

It  was  only  the  merest  fraction  of  time  before  Sewatis 
discharged  .the  gun  he  held  full  at  the  breast  of  the  savage 
in  front  of  him,  and  in  a  twinkling,  as  you  might  say,  four 
of  the  enemy  were  out  of  the  fight. 

Without  being  well  aware  of  my  movements,  I  sprang 
to  my  feet,  and  dashed  forward,  yelling  at  the  full  strength 
of  my  lungs,  while  Amos  followed  my  example. 

The  Indians  must  have  believed  there  was  a  large  force 
behind  us,  otherwise  we  would  not  have  dared  to  charge 
thus  upon  them,  and,  without  waiting  to  strike  a  single 


76 


WHEX  ISRAEL    PUTXAM  SERVED    THE   KING. 


blow,  they  fled  in  hot  haste,  —  all  save  one,  who  was 
felled  to  the  ground  by  Sewatis,  even  before  he  could 
turn  to  flee. 

It  was  the  most  complete  victory  I  ever  saw,  and  could 
not  have  been  effected  had  either  Amos  or  I  hesitated 
a  single  second  after  the  red  man  gave  the  signal. 

I  sprang  forward  to  grasp  Sewatis's  hand  ;  but  he  knew 


too  well  the  value  of 
time  at   this  instant. 

"  Twenty  more  will  soon 

be  on  us  !  "  he  cried,  in  his  own  language,  as  he  stooped  to 
supply  himself  with  powder  and  ball  from  the  bodies  of  the 
lifeless  ones,  who  a  few  seconds  previous  were  determined 
he  should  die  the  most  painful  death.  "  We  have  yet  to 
save  our  lives,  for  the  alarm  has  been  given." 

I  waited  for  him  to  lead  the  way,  knowing  full  well  he 
alone  among  us  three  knew  best  what  should  be  clone,  and 
before  I  could  have  counted  five  he  started  off  at  right 
angles  with  the  course  Major  Rogers's  men  must  follow 
in  order  to  reach  Fort  Anne. 


SEWATIS.  77 

Hurriedly,  as  we  ran,  I  told  him  that  the  troops  were 
coming  up  the  lake ;  but  he  did  not  change  the  course. 

How  long  this  flight  continued  I  cannot  say ;  I  was  so 
excited  by  our  success  as  to  have  no  idea  of  the  passage 
of  time ;  but  this  I  am  certain  of,  both  Amos  and  I  were 
well-nigh  spent  when  the  Indian  finally  slackened  his 
speed. 

He  allowed  us  perhaps  three  minutes  in  which  to  regain 
our  breath,  and  in  that  short  interval  we  were  able  to 
explain  from  what  quarter  the  second  and  third  divisions 
might  be  expected. 

"  Molang  knows  all  that ;  his  scouts  brought  him  word 
before  midnight.  We  must  make  our  way  alone  if  we 
would  live." 

"We  will  follow  wherever  you  lead,"  Amos  replied, 
bravely,  and  I  would  have  liked  the  speech  much  better 
had  he  added  the  words,  "so  long  as  we  are  able,"  for 
I  mistrusted  my  ability  to  keep  pace  with  the  Indian  if 
the  flight  was  long  continued. 

During  the  next  hour  we  doubled  first  this  way  and 
then  that,  until  we  were  brought  to  a  standstill  by  the 
sound  of  voices  directly  in  our  path,  and  we  halted  in 
astonishment  that  any  man  was  venturesome  enough  to 
give  his  tongue  free  rein  in  such  a  place. 

Shortly  afterwards  we  came  to  understand  that  we  were 
near  to  stumbling  over  a  body  of  French  troops,  who  were 
no  better  soldiers  in  the  woods  than  the  King's  forces,  and 
then  Sewatis  turned  back,  as  if  to  retrace  his  steps. 

It  would  be  repeating  almost  the  same  words  over  and 


78         WHEN  ISRAEL   PUTNAM  SERVED    THE   KING. 

over  again  if  I  should  try  to  describe  all  we  did  on  this 
day. 

We  were  the  hares,  and  Molang's  crew  the  dogs  who 
coursed  us  first  this  way  and  then  that,  coming  within  an 
ace  of  catching  us  a  dozen  times,  but  always  baffled  by  the 
cunning  of  Sewatis. 

Before  we  were  with  Israel  Putnam's  force  again  I 
reckoned  that  the  Indian  had  saved  our  lives  over  and 
over ;  therefore  were  we  quits,  for  it  does  not  seem  pos- 
sible we  could,  unaided,  have  made  our  way  through  that 
forest,  where  it  was  as  if  every  tree  hid  a  foe,  without 
being  captured. 

As  it  turned,  however,  we  gained  Major  Putnam's 
encampment  two  hours  after  sunset,  and  were  able  to 
make  a  better  report  than  any  scout  he  had  sent  out, 
because  of  the  fact  that  it  was  as  if  we  had  travelled  over 
every  yard  of  the  land  within  a  circle  of  ten  miles. 

The  major  was  surprised  at  seeing  Sewatis,  as  well  he 
might  be,  for  the  cowards  had  returned  to  camp  with  their 
shameful  story  ;  and  the  Indian  explained  how  he  had  been 
rescued,  giving  us  so  much  praise  a  listener  must  have 
believed  we  deserved  all  the  credit,  when  in  fact  it  was 
Sewatis  who  had  really  rescued  himself. 

Both  Amos  and  I  tried  to  explain  how  small  a  part  we 
played  in  the  business,  but  even  the  major  refused  to 
listen,  saying  that  it  was  enough  to  know  we  had  risked 
our  lives  to  aid  a  comrade,  even  though  that  comrade  was 
an  Indian. 

"  The  cowards  came  in  with  their  report,  as  if  expecting 


SEWATIS.  79 

to  be  received  in  friendly  fashion,  after  thus  playing  the 
cur,"  Israel  Putnam  said  to  us.  "  I  could  have  killed 
them,  and  believed  I  was  doing  the  province  a  good  deed 
in  taking  off  such  vermin  ;  but  it  would  hardly  have  been 
the  act  of  a  soldier,  therefore  I  simply  turned  them  out 
of  the  camp,  and  every  man  of  the  force  upheld  me  in 
so  doing." 

"  Surely  they  cannot  escape  capture,  surrounded  as  you 
are  by  Molang's  savages  !  "  Amos  exclaimed. 

"  It  will  be  only  right  if  they  are  taken.  Now  tell  me, 
what  chance  has  Rogers  and  Dalyell  of  joining  me?" 

"  It  is  only  by  coming  up  on  the  other  side  of  Wood 
Creek  that  they  can  hope  to  do  so,"  Sewatis  replied, 
promptly,  which  proved  that,  while  Amos  and  I  were  con- 
fused by  the  many  turns  and  twists  in  our  journey  of  the 
day,  the  Indian  had  gotten  a  good  idea  of  how  Molang's 
forces  were  distributed. 

"Will  you  turn  back,  and  warn  them  of  what  should 
be  done  ? " 

Believing  this  question  was  addressed  to  us,  as  well  as 
the  Indian,  Amos  and  I  both  answered,  "  Yes  ;  "  but  Israel 
Putnam  brushed  us  aside  as  if  we  were  untried  lads. 

"  One  can  do  the  work  better  than  three,  and  Sewatis 
is  the  man  to  go,  providing  he  is  willing  to  make  the 
venture." 

Instead  of  replying,  the  Indian  walked  rapidly  away, 
bearing  on  his  arm  the  musket  taken  from  the  Indian 
who  would  have  tortured  him  to  death,  and  I  was  dis- 
gruntled because  of  thus  being  overlooked. 


80        WHEN  ISRAEL    PUTNAM  SERVED    THE   KING. 

"  I  can  ill  afford  to  spare  one  from  this  force,"  the 
major  said,  with  his  rare  smile,  "  therefore  you  two  must 
remain.  There  is  more  danger  here  than  on  the  trail,  of 
that  you  may  be  certain." 

Then  he  turned  from  us,  and  after  this  last  remark  we 
were  well  content  to  remain. 


CHAPTER   V. 

NEAR    FORT    ANNE. 

I  HAVE  said  that  Israel  Putnam's  force  was  encamped 
on  the  border  of  Clear  River,  which  is  a  fork  of  Wood 
Creek,  before  it  joins  East  Creek,  and  less  than  a  mile 
from  Fort  Anne. 

Although  Amos  and  I  had  found  the  woods  roundabout 
so  full  of  Indians,  the  major's  scouts  reported,  as  we 
learned  shortly  after  Sewatis  left  camp,  that  Molang's  crew 
were  not  advancing  towards  us,  but  rather  contenting 
themselves  with  scouring  the  thicket  to  the  eastward  of 
Wood  Creek,  and  holding  that  territory  between  us  and 
Deer  Mountain  Pasture. 

He  is  foolish,  who,  because  his  enemy  is  a  brute, 
belittles  the  latter's  ability. 

That  Molang  hardly  deserved  the  name  of  man  is  true  ; 
yet,  at  the  same  time,  it  must  be  confessed  he  was  a  crafty 
savage,  and  so  well  versed  in  his  particular  method  of 
warfare  as  to  be  a  dangerous  foe.  To  suppose  that  he 
was  not  well  aware  of  Israel  Putnam's  encampment,  would 
be  the  same  as  saying  that  he  was  unusually  thick-headed, 
when  the  reverse  was  the  truth. 

81 


82         WHEN  ISRAEL   PUTNAM  SERVED    THE   KING. 

In  discussing  the  matter  among  ourselves,  Amos  and  I, 
we  decided  that  Molang  hesitated  to  attack  us,  lest  he 
should  frighten  away  the  two  divisions  whose  arrival  we 
were  expecting. 

His  force,  counting  three  Frenchmen  to  be  equal  to 
one  Indian,  was  so  large  that  there  could  be  little  ques- 
tion as  to  the  result  if  he  attacked  us,  even  after  we  were 
joined  by  Major  Rogers's  and  Captain  Daly  ell's  divisions. 

We  had  come  to  spy  out  the  enemy,  and  had  found  him 
in  greater  force  than  was  at  all  pleasant. 

Now,  although  we  two  said  to  ourselves  that,  should  a 
regular  battle  ensue,  the  King's  forces  must  be  worsted, 
there  was  but  little  fear  in  our  minds  regarding  the  gen- 
eral outcome,  so  great  was  our  faith  in  Israel  Putnam's 
ability  to  extricate  us  from  the  difficulties  ;  and  the  great- 
est care  we  had  at  that  time  was  lest  Major  Rogers's 
division  would  be  forced  to  go  to  their  relief,  and  thus 
compass  our  own  undoing. 

There  was  ample  time  for  Amos  and  I  to  discuss  all 
these  matters,  because  we  were,  as  you  might  say,  alone 
in  the  company,  not  being  overly  well  acquainted  with 
any  of  our  companions-in-arms. 

True  it  is,  there  were  some  Pomfret  men  among  the 
party,  with  whom  we  passed  the  time  of  day  when  meet- 
ing, and  we  could  call  by  name  several  of  those  from 
Guilford  ;  but  were  not  on  such  terms  of  acquaintance 
as  would  warrant  our  terming  them  comrades,  or  even 
friends. 

Perhaps  it  was  because  Israel  Putnam  thought  we  had 


NEAR  FORT  ANNE.  85 

done  our  share  of  extra  duty,  that  he  refrained  from  call- 
ing on  us  for  any  especial  service  during  this  time,  when 
we  lay  waiting  the  coming  of  the  divisions.  We  certainly 
could  not  feel  jealous,  since  he  had  already  sent  us  on  a 
mission  of  no  little  danger,  and  in  addition  to  accomplish- 
ing it  we  had  saved  Sewatis's  life ;  therefore  neither 
Amos  nor  I  were  fretting  on  account  of  thus  remaining 
idle. 

Yet  it  must  not  be  supposed  we  were  perfectly  easy  in 
our  mind,  for  we  had  seen  sufficient  to  tell  us  how  numer- 
ous was  Molang's  crew,  and  knew  beyond  a  peradventure 
that  before  many  hours  had  passed  we  must  be  defending 
ourselves  against  overwhelming  numbers. 

It  was  because  of  this  uneasiness  that  we  had  no  desire 
for  slumber,  and  were  yet  awake  when,  shortly  before 
midnight,  much  to  our  surprise,  Sewatis  returned. 

After  making  his  report  to  the  major,  he  sought  us  out, 
and  thus  we  learned  nearly  as  soon  as  did  Israel  Putnam 
of  the  condition  of  affairs  regarding  the  other  divisions. 

It  seemed  that  the  Indian's  mission  had  been  a  needless 
one,  for  Major  Rogers's  scouts  had  advised  the  same  plan 
of  advance  which  Sewatis  spoke  of,  and  he  found  them 
on  the  west  bank  of  the  creek,  approaching  our  encamp- 
ment with  reasonable  rapidity. 

I  questioned  him  regarding  what  he  had  seen  of  the 
enemy,  and  his  reply  was  not  reassuring. 

It  is  true  they  yet  remained  some  distance  away,  as  if 
with  no  intention  of  advancing ;  but  when  we  pressed 
Sewatis  for  his  opinion,  he  gave  it  much  as  I  have  already 


86        WHEN  ISRAEL   PUTNAM  SERVED    THE   KING. 

stated  :  that  the  crafty  savage  was  only  biding  his  time 
when  he  could  meet  all  three  of  the  divisions,  and  he 
evidently  had  no  doubt  as  to  the  final  result. 

I  know  that  in  saying  this  I  am  giving  to  that  murder- 
ous villain  a  character  different  from  that  which  he  had 
borne  up  to  that  moment. 

It  was  seldom  his  custom  to  attack  large  bodies  of 
white  men,  but  rather  to  wait  until  it  should  be  possible 
to  cut  them  off  by  detachments,  thereby  incurring  less 
danger  to  his  own  precious  person  ;  but  in  this  instance 
he  was  leading  French  soldiers  as  well  as  red  brutes,  and 
most  likely  counted  upon  impressing  the  frog-eaters  with 
his  skill  in  military  tactics. 

Perhaps  I  simply  waste  time  in  trying  to  make  any 
explanation  for  the  better  understanding  of  that  which 
followed  ;  but  yet  it  seems  to  me  necessary,  because  all 
which  occurred  was  so  entirely  different  from  what  those 
who  professed  to  be  familiar  with  Indian  warfare  had  ever 
experienced. 

However,  certain  it  is  that  Molang  made  no  attempt  at 
murdering  Israel  Putnam's  little  band,  which  he  could 
easily  have  done  offhand,  and  the  other  two  divisions  were 
allowed  to  join  us  unmolested. 

I  say  "  allowed,"  because  we  all  in  that  encampment 
believed  Molang  was  thoroughly  well  informed  of  the 
movements  of  each  division. 

Not  until  the  following  afternoon  did  the  remainder  of 
our  force  arrive,  and  then,  as  I  heard  one  of  the  Rangers 
say,  the  corps  numbered  about  five  hundred,  counting 


NEAR   FORT  ANNE.  8/ 

English,  Provincials,  Rangers,  and  such  few  Indians  as 
we  had  with  us. 

Sewatis  was  on  the  scout  during  this  afternoon,  and 
when  he  came  in  told  Amos  and  I  quite  privately  that 
Molang's  crew  were  working  up  towards  us. 

The  wily  savage,  now  that  we  were  together,  most 
likely  counted  on  making  one  job  of  it,  and  believed  that 
he  would  be  able  to  destroy  us  all. 

During  the  last  night  at  this  encampment  Israel  Put- 
nam moved  to  and  fro  as  we  had  seen  him  at  South  Bay, 
and  Amos  said  to  me,  when  he  passed  for  at  least  the 
tenth  time  where  we  were  lying : 

"  The  major  has  got  the  scent  of  the  savages.  When 
he  walks  about  in  that  restless  manner  you  may  be  cer- 
tain danger  is  nigh." 

We  slept  but  little  during  this  night,  my  comrade  and 
I,  and  talked  much  to  Sewatis,  who  felt  confident  we 
would  soon  be  attacked. 

The  hour  before  daybreak  is  the  one  the  red  fiends 
most  fancy,  and  when  that  time  drew  hear  at  hand  every 
Ranger  and  Provincial  was  on  his  feet. 

It  seemed  strange  to  us  that  no  sound  was  heard  as  the 
moments  passed. 

So  profound  was  the  silence  that  one  almost  feared  to 
break  it  by  even  so  much  as  a  whisper,  and  those  who 
were  incredulous  regarding  Molang's  force,  such  as  Major 
Rogers  and  some  of  the  British  officers,  came  nigh  to 
calling  Israel  Putnam  a  coward  for  taking  so  many  pre- 
cautions. 


88        WHEN  ISRAEL   PUTNAM  SERVED    THE  KING. 

When  the  day  dawned,  we  were  still  on  the  alert,  and 
as  yet  undisturbed ;  but  the  most  experienced  woodsmen 
among  us  declared  that  we  should  not  long  be  left  in 
peace. 

It  had  been  decided  among  the  leaders  of  the  corps 
on  the  previous  evening,  as  we  learned  from  rumours 
which  went  about  the  camp,  that,  providing  no  hostile 
demonstration  was  made  by  Molang,  we  should  start 
for  Fort  Edward  at  sunrise,  and  the  time  was  near 
at  hand. 

Israel  Putnam  and  Captain  Dalyell  wore  an  air  of 
anxious  expectancy. 

Major  Rogers  was  in  the  highest  glee ;  to  his  mind  the 
peril  had  been  overrated,  and  the  march  to  Fort  Edward 
would  cause  no  more  than  weariness. 

Amos  and  I  were  watching  him,  believing  it  was  in  his 
mind  to  call  Israel  Putnam  a  coward  in  plain  words,  and 
to  my  thinking  he  did  so  when,  from  pure  bravado,  he 
challenged  one  of  the  red-coated  lieutenants  to  shoot 
with  him  at  a  target. 

During  the  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes  while  we  were 
preparing  for  the  march  did  these  two  thus  occupy  them- 
selves, and  if  Molang  was  not  already  well  informed  of  our 
whereabouts,  the  reports  of  the  firearms  would  speedily 
have  warned  him. 

Then  came  the  command  to  move,  and  Rogers's  divi- 
sion marched  in  advance. 

Our  camping-place  was  surrounded  by  a  dense  thicket, 
beyond  which  was  an  open  wood,  therefore  we  who 


NEAR  FORT  ANNE.  89 

brought  up  the  rear  had  little  knowledge  of  what  the 
foremost  men  were  doing. 

We  could  see  file  after  file  disappear  among  the  tangled 
underbrush,  and  when,  as  might  be  supposed,  the  first 
division  was  well  out  of  the  thicket,  there  came  a  crash 
such  as  could  not  have  been  produced  by  less  than  fif- 
teen hundred  or  two  thousand  muskets,  and  we  knew  that 
Molang  was  well  satisfied  with  our  position. 

"  Keep  well  together,  boys,  until  we  are  out  of  this  tan- 
gle ! "  Israel  Putnam  cried,  and  Amos  said  in  a  low  tone 
to  me : 

"  Our  force  of  five  or  six  hundred  will  be  as  nothing 
compared  to  those  who  are  opposing  us." 

I  believed  the  moment  was  near  at  hand  when  that 
"last  bullet "  of  which  the  dear  lad  had  spoken  would  be 
needed. 

It  was  as  if  no  more  than  three  minutes  elapsed  from 
the  time  the  report  of  the  firearms  first  rang  out  with  such 
volume,  when,  through  the  foliage,  I  caught  sight  of  Major 
Rogers  leading  his  division  in  retreat. 

He  had  been  incredulous  as  to  the  whereabouts  of  the 
enemy,  and  now  evidently  doubted  his  own  courage. 

"  Stand  steady,  boys ! "  Israel  Putnam  said,  hardly 
louder  than  a  whisper,  but  so  clearly  that  every  one  of 
us  heard  the  words  distinctly.  "  Stand  steady,  boys  !  All 
the  more  need  of  proving  our  metal  if  there  be  others  who 
are  faint-hearted." 

That  portion  of  the  corps  led  by  Captain  Dalyell  and 
Israel  Putnam  advanced  to  do  battle  as  valiantly  as 


90        IV HEN  ISRAEL    PUTNAM  SERVED    THE   KING. 

though  confident  of  success,  and  then  was  come  the 
time  when  I  have  no  clear  idea  of  what  I  did. 

When  it  was  over,  and  we  safe  at  Fort  Edward  once 
more,  Amos  also  confessed  to  the  same  partial  uncon- 
sciousness. 

Like  one  in  a  dream  I  saw,  after  we  were  marched  from 
the  thicket  into  the  open  wood,  the  flash  of  weapons  here 
and  there,  everywhere  before  me,  like  fireflies  in  a  swamp  ; 
the  report  of  musketry  was  as  the  crackling  of  a  rattle  in- 
cessantly whirled,  and  on  every  hand,  as  it  seemed,  were 
men  dead  or  dying. 

More  than  once  did  I  dimly  see  a  Ranger  grapple  with 
a  painted  savage,  and,  not  thinking  that  I  myself  was  in 
danger,  I  would  stand  in  open-mouthed  curiosity,  wonder- 
ing which  of  the  two  would  rise  from  that  deadly  embrace. 

Nearer  and  nearer  came  the  Indians,  —  the  French  we 
saw  not. 

The  King's  troops,  for  the  greater  part  disregarding  the 
opportunities  for  concealment  behind  the  trees,  stood  their 
ground  like  men,  until  they  were  shot  down  or  toma- 
hawked. 

How  many  were  dragged  away  prisoners,  later  to  be 
tortured  with  such  cruelty  as  only  these  painted  fiends 
can  devise,  no  one  may  say ;  but  again  and  again  did  I  see 
half  a  dozen  or  more  of  the  bloodthirsty  wretches  spring 
upon  a  soldier  when  his  musket  was  empty  and  drag  him 
to  the  ground,  inflicting  no  injuries,  lest  by  some  mischance 
they  kill  him  outright. 

Then  it  was,  and  I  know  not  how  long  a  time  after  the 


NEAR  FORT  ANNE.  91 

battle  first  opened,  when  it  seemed  as  if  our  Rangers  were 
in  the  very  press  of  the  conflict. 

Israel  Putnam  no  longer  waved  his  sword  to  cheer  us, 
but  had  taken  a  musket  from  the  nerveless  hands  of  its 
owner,  and  was  using  it  with  deadly  precision  perhaps  not 
twenty  paces  in  advance  of  where  Amos  and  I  stood  shel- 
tered by  a  pine-tree,  the  bark  of  which  was  cut  and  slashed 
as  if  by  a  hundred  bullets. 

Not  more  than  twenty  feet  in  front  of  him,  each  painted 
body  sheltered,  was  the  foremost  line  of  Molang's  crew, 
and  our  major,  hoping,  most  like,  to  force  them  back  and 
thereby  revive  the  drooping  spirits  of  Rogers's  division, 
only  a  portion  of  which  had  come  to  our  aid,  sprang  yet 
nearer  the  foe,  urging  us  to  follow  him. 

In  trying  to  obey  this  command,  Amos  and  I  at  the 
same  instant  left  our  shelter,  and  made  for  another  tree  a 
dozen  paces  or  more  in  advance,  at  the  very  moment  when 
the  largest  savage  I  ever  saw  sprang  towards  our  major. 

Putnam's  musket  was  levelled,  and,  turning  from  thought 
of  my  own  danger,  I  looked  to  see  the  Indian  fall ;  but  in- 
stead, our  major's  weapon  misfired,  and  with  the  agility  of 
a  cat  the  half-naked  brute  leaped  upon  him,  bearing  him 
down. 

We  who  witnessed  this  scene  did  not  dare  fire  upon  the 
enemy,  lest  we  should  kill  him  whom  we  would  save,  and 
the  wretch  understood  full  well  what  advantage  was  his. 

As  if  with  the  sole  desire  to  madden  us,  instead  of  car- 
rying his  prisoner  to  the  rear,  the  Indian  bound  Israel  Put- 
nam hand  and  foot  to  a  tree  directly  in  front  of  their 


92         WHEN  ISRAEL   PUTNAM  SERVED    THE   KING. 

line,  and  instantly  a  dozen  or  more  of  the  red  fiends  took 
up  their  station  behind  the  helpless  officer,  firing  at  us, 
while  we  dared  not  return  it. 

"  Unless  we  can  save  him,  I  hope  a  chance  bullet  may 
end  our  major's  life,"  Amos  Cowden  said  between  his 
clenched  teeth,  and  I  came  near  to  echoing  the  wish, 
remembering  Robert  Litchfield's  fate. 

Captain  Dalyell  did  all  an  officer  could  do  to  free  the 
prisoner. 

Again  and  again  was  our  little  force  mustered  at  one 
point,  with  due  regard  to  sheltering  ourselves,  however, 
and  the  hottest  fire  was  poured  in  close  around  where 
Israel  Putnam  was  thus  held  helpless,  with  the  hope  that 
we  might  force  back  the  savages  ;  but  all  in  vain. 

Molang's  crew  knew  only  too  well  the  advantage  they 
thus  had  in  making  of  our  major  a  shield  for  their  worth- 
less bodies,  and,  as  I  have  been  told  later,  during  more 
than  an  hour  we  fought  manfully,  desperately,  without 
causing  them  to  retreat  so  much  as  a  yard. 

Then  it  was  we  saw  the  same  savage  who  had  captured 
him  come  up  from  behind,  taking  good  care  not  to  expose 
his  paint-begrimed  carcass  to  our  aim,  and  unloose  the 
prisoner  from  the  tree,  keeping  his  arms  and  feet  bound. 

With  one  quick  twist  he  pulled  our  major  over  his 
shoulder,  and  with  a  laugh  of  derision  plunged  further 
into  the  forest,  until  they  were  lost  to  view  in  the  distance. 

No  one  could  fire  without  danger  of  killing  our  com- 
mander, and  we  were  thus  forced  to  see  him  borne  away 
while  we  stood  helplessly  by. 


NEAR   FORT  ANNE. 


93 


Captain  Dalyell  was  a  brave  man,  and  when  Israel 
Putnam  had  been  made  captive,  assumed  command  of  the 
forces,  for  Rogers  was  skulking  in  the  rear  somewhere, 
and  every  one  of  us,  although  fighting  desperately  before, 
was  nerved  to  yet  greater  exertions,  in  the  faint  hope  that 
we  might  save  our  neighbour  from  Pomfret. 


Later  I  heard  it  said  that  the  capture  of  Israel  Putnam 
gained  for  us  the  day,  because  every  man,  except  those 
cowards  in  the  rear,  fought  yet  more  bravely,  thinking  it 
might  be  possible  to  wrest  from  Molang's  crew  the  prize 
they  had  taken. 

As  for  Amos  and  myself,  I  only  know,  that  for  the  time 
being,  we  forgot  our  lives  were  imperilled,  in  the  thought 


94        WHEN  ISRAEL   PUTNAM  SERVED    THE  KING. 

of  succouring  him  who  was  a  friend  as  well  as  a  com- 
mander, and  after  a  time  we  were  joined  by  Sewatis,  who 
came  from  I  know  not  where,  but  who  fought  like  a  demon. 

The  easy  victory,  which  that  brute  Molang  had  ex- 
pected, was  not  gained. 

Step  by  step  we  advanced  as  the  savage  crew  retreated. 

\Yhen  our  weapons  were  fouled  with  much  using,  we 
dropped  them,  exchanging  with  a  dead  man,  or  one  so 
grievously  wounded  as  to  be  unable  to  protect  himself, 
and  in  such  wise  did  the  time  pass  until  the  fire  from  our 
front  slackened,  decreasing  rapidly. 

Then  I  heard  some  one  shout  : 

"  They  are  in  retreat  !  " 

We  had  won  the  day ;  but  to  my  mind  it  would  have 
been  better  had  we  lost  the  battle,  and  kept  in  our  ranks 
that  gallant  gentleman  from  Pomfret. 

Now  that  the  danger  was  over,  Major  Rogers  showed 
himself  among  the  foremost,  and  I  waited  breathlessly, 
expecting  to  hear  him  order  us  forward  in  pursuit ;  but  no 
such  command  was  given. 

We  were  standing,  Amos  and  I,  sheltered  by  a  tree,  as 
if  the  enemy  were  still  seeking  to  take  our  lives,  when 
there  came  to  my  ear  a  whisper  in  the  Indian  tongue  : 

"  Are  you  of  the  mind  to  aid  Major  Putnam  as  you 
aided  Sewatis  ?  " 

It  was  the  Indian  who  spoke,  and  for  reply  I  clasped 
him  by  the  hand,  Amos  doing  likewise ;  but  hardly  had 
assent  thus  been  given,  when  I  misdoubted  our  ability  to 
accomplish  anything  amid  so  many. 


NEAR   FORT  ANNE.  95 

"How  may  it  be  done,  Sewatis  ? "  I  asked.  "Surely 
we  three  cannot  venture  among  Molang's  forces,  numerous 
as  they  are.  What  plan  have  you  in  mind  ?  " 

"  What  plan  had  you  to  save  my  life  ? " 

"  None  whatever.     We  trusted  to  chance." 

"  And  that  is  what  we  shall  do  now." 

There  seemed  little  hope.  It  was  true  Amos  and  I  had 
succeeded  in  giving  succour  to  Sewatis  ;  but  his  captors 
numbered  only  eight,  and  Israel  Putnam  was  held  prisoner 
by  all  that  remained  alive  of  the  two  thousand  or  more 
whom  Molang  had  led  to  battle. 

The  Indian  would  have  set  off  at  once ;  but  I  reminded 
him  that  both  my  comrade  and  myself  were  in  need  of 
ammunition,  and  we  moved  around  among  the  dead  and 
dying  to  get  what  store  was  necessary,  seeing  meanwhile 
such  horrible  sights  as  made  my  heart  sick. 

When  we  were  done,  and  it  can  well  be  imagined  there 
was  no  lingering  amid  such  dreadful  scenes,  I  turned  to 
•ask  permission  of  Captain  Dalyell,  whom  I  looked  upon  as 
the  next  in  command  to  Israel  Putnam,  even  though  Major 
Rogers  was  there.  This  last  officer  had  proven  himself 
a  coward,  and  had  no  right  to  say  what  an  honest  man 
should  or  should  not  do. 

"  Where  are  you  going  ? "  Sewatis  asked,  quickly. 

"To  tell  of  our  purpose." 

"And  for  what  reason  ?   If  you  are  denied  permission?" 

"  I  think  in  that  case  I  should  go  at  all  hazards." 

"We  are  soldiers,"  Amos  interrupted,  "even  though 
we  know  not  the  manual  of  arms  according  to  military 


96         IVIIEX  ISRAEL    PUTNAM  SERVED    THE    KING. 

training,  and  should  we  act  in  opposition  to  the  commands 
of  our  officers,  it  would  be  a  serious  matter." 

"Better  go  without  speaking,"  Sewatis  said,  sharply. 
"  If  we  are  not  found,  it  will  be  believed  Molang's  braves 
have  taken  us,  and  no  one  can  be  blamed." 

The  Indian  was  right.  If  we  left  the  field  at  once  no 
one  could  say  we  had  gone  without  permission,  —  in  fact, 
that  which  he  suggested  would  be  believed,  and  while  I 
had  little  faith  we  could  aid  Israel  Putnam,  I  was  burning 
to  make  the  attempt. 

"  Move  around  to  the  right,  that  we  may  not  be  ob- 
served, and  once  we  are  out  of  sight  you  shall  say  what 
is  to  be  done." 

This  was  Amos's  method  of  settling  matters,  and  I 
agreed  to  it  by  setting  off  as  he  had  suggested. 

Where  every  man  was  intent  upon  attending  to  those 
who  were  suffering,  or  yet  guarding  against  a  possible 
return  of  the  enemy,  it  was  a  simple  matter  for  us  to 
leave  without  observation,  and  no  more  than  ten  minutes 
had  elapsed  from  the  time  Molang's  crew  were  in  full 
retreat,  before  we  pursued,  on  the  wild  chance  of  rescuing 
the  prisoner  who  would  be  guarded  more  closely  than  any 
other,  because  of  his  rank. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

THE    PRISONER. 

AMOS  and  I  knew  full  well  to  what  danger  we  were 
exposing  ourselves  in  thus  following  the  retreating 
savages. 

Molang's  force  was  so  great  that  it  hardly  seemed  prob- 
able his  bloodthirsty  wretches  were  disheartened  by  the 
drubbing  they  had  received,  and  should  it  be  discovered 
that  we  were  so  bold  as  to  follow,  every  effort  would  be 
made  to  effect  our  capture. 

Of  course  Sewatis  knew  this  as  well  as  we,  but  such 
work  was  his  trade,  so  to  speak,  and  he  would  have  made 
the  venture  even  though  the  stake  was  not  so  high. 

Do  not  suppose  that  either  Amos  or  I  were  growing 
timorous  after  we  set  out. 

Such  feeling  had  come  upon  me,  at  least,  before  we 
started,  and  although  I  had  little  hope  we  could  effect 
anything,  there  was  no  thought  of  turning  back. 

Of  one  thing  we  were  certain  :  no  better  leader  could 
have  been  found,  and  so  long  as  we  obeyed  his  orders, 
unless  the  fates  were  desperately  against  us,  there  was 
good  reason  for  believing  we  might  hold  our  own. 

97 


98        WHEN  ISRAEL   PUTNAM  SERVED    THE   KING. 

As  proof  that  the  savages  were  not  in  a  panic  of  fear, 
we  caught  glimpses,  now  and  then,  of  the  hindermost, 
before  half  an  hour  had  passed,  and  when  we  arrived  at  a 
certain  dense  thicket  where  were  so  many  thorns  that 
there  was  little  chance  Molang's  half-naked  villains  would 
venture,  save  they  knew  their  prey  was  concealed  within, 
Sewatis  called  a  halt. 

"We  will  rest  here,"  he  said,  speaking  as  quietly  as 
though  we  had  been  out  for  a  day's  hunting,  and  were 
weary.  "We  will  rest  here;  the  major  is  in  no  danger 
until  nightfall,  and  there  is  fear  we  may  by  chance  come 
upon  the  laggards  in  the  flight,  which  would  be  unpleasant." 

All  this  he  spoke  in  the  Indian  tongue,  and  I  must  add 
in  favour  of  Sewatis,  whom  Amos  and  I  had  known  many 
a  year,  he  never  used  those  high-sounding  words  which  I 
have  since  heard  people  say  the  Indians  indulge  in. 

For  my  part,  all  of  the  redskins  whom  I  have  seen  and 
heard  speak  in  their  own  language,  talk  much  as  do  we, 
with  precious  little  about  the  "  Great  Spirit,"  "  Happy 
Hunting  Grounds,"  or  other  folderol  which  is  oftentimes 
put  in  their  mouths  by  those  who  never  had  the  ill-fortune 
to  meet  them. 

Amos  and  I  were  not  loath  to  do  as  Sewatis  proposed, 
and  knew  the  hiding-place  would  be  a  safe  one  for  a  cer- 
tain time  at  least,  because  of  the  difficulty  we  had  in 
entering  the  thicket  without  cutting  our  flesh  by  the 
thorns. 

Here  until  the  day  was  well-nigh  spent  did  we  remain, 
and,  although  it  may  seem  strange  after  all  the  dreadful 


THE   PRISONER.  99 

scenes  we  had  witnessed,  both  Amos  and  I  spent  a  goodly 
portion  of  the  time  in  slumber. 

It  was  well  that  we  did  so,  since  it  might  be  the  last 
chance  for  many  a  long  hour. 

When  the  sun  was  no  more  than  an  hour  high,  and  after 
we  had  seen  well  to  the  priming  of  our  muskets,  as  well  as 
made  certain  everything  we  carried  was  in  its  proper  place, 
the  pursuit  was  resumed. 

I  have  seen  much  trailing,  both  before  the  battle  on 
Clear  River  and  since,  but  never  such  skilful  work  as 
was  done  by  the  Indian  Sewatis  on  this  day,  so  long  as  it 
was  light  enough  to  read  the  signs  on  the  ground. 

Although  many  Indians  had  passed,  and  among  them 
no  less  than  three  hundred  Frenchmen,  he  would  point 
now  and  then  to  what  he  insisted  was  the  mark  of  Israel 
Putnam's  boots  ;  and  I  have  no  question  but  that  he  was  in 
the  right,  for  when,  two  hours  after  sunset,  we  came  upon 
where  Molang's  murderers  were  encamped,  there  was  no 
need  to  search  for  the  prisoner. 

He  was  there,  and  we  could  not  have  followed  more 
directly  had  we  walked  in  full  view  of  him  as  he  was 
forced  through  the  woods  by  his  merciless  captors. 

The  camp-fires  everywhere  around  told  that  the  savages 
were  not  fearful  of  pursuit.  They  knew  only  too  well  how 
few  in  numbers  was  the  force  they  had  attacked,  and 
understood,  or  believed  they  did,  that  no  attempt  would  be 
made  to  renew  the  battle. 

Had  Captain  Dalyell  followed  us  with  a  hundred  men, 
that  band  of  murderers  might  have  been  considerably 


IOO     WHEN  ISRAEL    PUTNAM  SERVED    THE   KING. 

reduced,  for  not  a  sentinel  was  stationed,  as  far  as  we 
could  make  out,  anywhere  around  the  encampment,  and  a 
surprise  would  have  been  disastrous  while  they  were  busy 
in  their  barbarous  work  of  torturing  prisoners. 

Because  of  the  many  camp-fires  we  could  see  our  poor 
major  plainly,  and  the  sight  was  a  woeful  one. 

Stripped  naked,  he  was  bound  fast  to  a  sapling  in  the 
very  centre  of  the  encampment,  and  half  a  dozen  or  more 
wretches  were  busily  engaged  piling  dry  wood  around  the 
base  of  the  tree. 

We  knew  only  too  well  what  all  this  meant,  and  Amos 
clutched  my  hand  until  his  grasp  was  painful,  as  from 
behind  the  shelter  we  looked  on  at  these  preparations. 

We  had  come  to  within  a  hundred  yards  of  the  outer- 
most line  of  fires,  where  any  one  of  the  crew  might 
stumble  upon  us  by  chance,  and  yet,  because  of  that 
scene  before  us,  heeded  not  the  danger. 

"They  are  going  to  burn  him,"  Amos  whispered  in  my 
ear,  and  I  strove  hard  to  keep  the  tears  from  my  eyes  as  I 
nodded  in  assent. 

"Are  we  to  do  nothing?"  he  asked,  a  moment  later, 
and  a  fierce  anger  came  upon  me  as  I  replied  : 

"The  most  we  could  do  now  would  be  to  die  with  him. 
What  may  three  avail  here,  where  are  no  less  than  five 
hundred  ? " 

I  might  have  set  the  number  twice  that,  and  not  been 
wrong,  for  the  encampment  was  a  large  one,  showing  that 
here  was  the  bulk  of  Molang's  men. 

Sewatis  gazed  at  the  scene  in  silence,  watching  every 


THE  PRISONER.  1 03 

detail,  and  so  great  was  my  rage  because  of  our  helpless- 
ness that  I  could  not  forbear  saying  in  his  ear  : 

"  We  are  come  as  you  wished.  Now  what  may  it  be 
possible  to  do  ?  " 

"  I  hoped  for  some  chance  such  as  came  to  you  when 
I,  like  him,  was  near  to  death,  but  it  is  denied  us." 

"  And  we  have  come  here  for  no  other  purpose  than  to 
see  him  die." 

"  That  would  please  him,  could  he  know  it.  When 
I  stood  as  does  he,  and  saw  you,  my  heart  grew  lighter, 
even  though  at  the  time  I  did  not  believe  you  could  stay 
the  fire,  or  ward  off  death  by  so  much  as  a  moment." 

Yes,  we  were  come  before  he  died ;  but  he  would  not 
know  it,  and  we  should  suffer  at  least  a  portion  of  the 
torture  which  must  be  his,  in  witnessing  the  horrible 
scene. 

As  the  bloodthirsty  wretches  piled  the  wood  around 
him  with  infinite  care,  my  rage  grew  so  great  that,  if 
Sewatis  had  proposed  for  us  three  to  rush  in  and  kill  as 
many  of  the  brutes  as  we  could,  I  would  have  gladly 
agreed,  without  thinking  of  what  must  follow  such  a  mad 
venture. 

Presently  all  was  done  as  these  scoundrels  would  have 
it,  and  I  saw  more  than  one  French  officer,  who  would 
have  considered  himself  insulted  had  he  been  accused 
of  being  a  savage,  walk  curiously  up  to  look  at  the 
unfortunate  major,  or  examine  the  arrangements  for  his 
death. 

Then  the  brutes  began  to  gather  nearabout  the  stake, 


104     WHEN  ISRAEL   PUTNAM  SERVED    THE  KING. 

and  we  knew  that  Israel  Putnam's  time  of  torture  was 
near  at  hand. 

There  was  much  shouting,  dancing,  discharging  of  fire- 
arms, and  brandishing  of  tomahawks  and  knives,  as  if 
certain  ceremonies  were  being  gone  through  with,  after 
which  the  huge  savage  who  had  captured  our  major 
advanced,  and  set  fire  to  the  light  wood. 

Save  that  the  flames  had  been  burning  into  my  flesh 
instead  of  his,  I  do  not  think  it  would  be  possible  for 
me  to  have  suffered  more  than  I  did  while  viewing  this 
horrible  spectacle. 

It  was  with  difficulty  I  could  keep  myself  from  shriek- 
ing, and  Amos  clasped  my  wrist  until  it  was  as  if  a  cord 
had  been  wound  tightly  around  it. 

Sewatis  remained  silent.  To  have  judged  simply  from 
the  expression  on  his  face,  one  would  have  said  he  was 
indifferent  to  the  scene. 

Again  I  asked,  hardly  knowing  what  I  did,  if  it  was  not 
possible  for  us  to  strike  one  blow  in  the  defence  of  our 
friend,  and  again  the  Indian  shook  his  head. 

We  knew  beyond  a  peradventure  that  no  assistance 
could  come  from  those  troops  we  had  left  behind  us, 
and  I  was  positive  that,  when  another  sun  should  set, 
the  gallant  gentleman  from  Pomfret  would  be  no  longer 
of  this  world. 

I  prayed  fervently  that  some  brute,  while  brandishing 
his  knife  or  tomahawk,  might  inadvertently  strike  the 
fatal  blow,  and  thus  relieve  the  unhappy  prisoner  from 
his  sufferings. 


THE   PRISONER.  1 05 

Higher  and  higher  the  flames  mounted.  Our  major 
was  doing  his  best  to  repress  any  show  of  suffering,  and 
yet  we  saw  him  move  his  head  this  way  or  that  as  if  to 
escape  the  torture  of  the  flames. 

It  was  while  this  orgy  was  at  its  height,  while  I  was 
praying  death  might  come  speedily,  that  a  drop  of  water 
fell  upon  my  face. 

Glancing  upward  quickly,  I  saw  a  storm-cloud  in  the 
sky,  and  it  was  as  if  I  had  but  just  looked  when  there 
came  a  downpour  of  rain  like  unto  a  flood. 

The  cruel  flames  were  beaten  out. 

The  prisoner  raised  his  face  so  far  as  was  possible  to 
receive  this  unexpected  aid  from  heaven,  and  I  could  well 
fancy  how  refreshing  was  the  splash  of  the  drops  upon 
his  blistered  skin. 

It  seemed  as  if  he  had  been  saved  because  of  my 
prayer,  and  I  was  nigh  to  crying  aloud  with  joy,  when 
the  horrible  thought  came  that  this  sudden  downpour 
of  water  would  but  prolong  his  agony. 

The  bloodthirsty  wretches,  once  the  rain  had  ceased 
falling,  would  ignite  the  pile  again,  and  he  was  simply 
respited  for  so  long  a  time  as  the  shower  should  continue. 

"  He  is  saved  !  He  is  saved  !  "  Amos  cried,  heeding 
not  that  by  such  exclamation  he  might  be  revealing  our 
presence  to  the  foe. 

Sewatis  shook  his  head.  For  the  first  time  since  this 
fiendish  orgy  had  begun  did  he  speak  : 

"  It  is  only  for  a  time,"  he  said.  "  Better  the  rain  had 
not  fallen,  for  he  would  be  so  much  nearer  the  end." 


IO6     WHEN  ISRAEL   PUTNAM  SERVED    THE   KING. 

While  the  shower  lasted,  say,  perhaps,  ten  minutes,  the 
murdering  crew  stood  silent  and  motionless  around  the 
stake,  and  as  the  clouds  passed  away  they  recommenced 
the  orgy. 

I  looked  to  see  them  rekindle  the  fire,  but,  apparently, 
no  one  gave  heed  to  it,  and  once  more  Amos  said,  hope- 
fully : 

"  They  are  not  going  to  burn  him.  Perhaps,  having 
seen  that  heaven  has  interposed  in  the  dreadful  work, 
they  will  content  themselves  with  such  antics  as  are 
now  going  on." 

"  They  content  themselves  with  knowing  that  the 
embers  will  soon  be  fanned  into  a  blaze,"  Sewatis  said; 
and  now  it  was  we  could  see  tiny  sparks  of  fire  here 
and  there,  which  were  gradually  growing  larger. 

Although  the  flames  on  the  top  of  the  pile  had  been 
beaten  out  by  the  rain,  there  was  sufficient  light  wood 
beneath  yet  burning  to  rekindle  the  whole. 

Even  as  we  watched,  and  before  there  was  time  to 
speak,  first  one  yellow  tongue  and  then  another  leaped 
up,  until  once  more  the  gentleman  from  Pomfret  was 
encircled  by  the  fiery  element. 

Again  I  prayed  that  death  might  come  quickly,  and 
again  was  it  shown  to  me  how  little  we  understand  what 
it  is  best  to  ask. 

When  the  blaze  was  fiercest,  and  just  as  it  seemed  to 
me  that  with  each  indrawing  of  the  unfortunate  man's 
breath  he  was  bringing  death  so  much  the  nearer,  a  fig- 
ure, in  the  uniform  of  a  French  officer,  dashed  through 


THE   PRISONER. 


lO/ 


the  howling,  maddened  throng,  kicked  the  embers  aside 
as  if  in  a  rage,  and,  as  soon  as  might  be,  severed  the  pris- 
oner's bonds. 

"Some  Frenchman  is  proving  that  he  is  not  quite  a 
savage,"  Amos  muttered,  and  Sewatis  turned,  as  if  our 
work  was  done  here,  while  he  replied  : 

"  It  is  Molang  himself.     He  wears  the  uniform  of  those 
whose  ally  he  prides  himself  on 
being.     The    prisoner   will   not 
suffer  death." 

"Not  suffer  death!"  I  re- 
peated. "  Has  Molang  sud- 
denly repented  of  his  ways  ?  " 

"  I  know  not  how  that 
may  be,  but  certain  it  is 
that  Major  Putnam's  life 
has  been  saved.  He  will 
now  be  carried  a  prisoner 
to  Canada." 

"  How  do  you  know  but  that  they  will  lead  him  to  the 
stake  again  ? "  Amos  asked,  incredulously. 

"  Not  after  his  life  has  been  spared  by  the  chief.  He  is 
as  safe  as  any  prisoner  in  their  hands  can  be,  and  we  may 
return  to  Fort  Edward." 

Sewatis  gave  us  no  opportunity  of  questioning  him 
further  ;  but  turning,  walked  swiftly  away  in  the  direction 
from  which  we  had  come,  trusting  that,  during  the  confu- 
sion consequent  upon  this  interruption  of  the  torture,  we 
might  pass  unheeded. 


108     WHEN  ISRAEL   PUTNAM  SERVED    THE  KING. 

Not  until  we  were  two  miles  or  more  away  did  the 
Indian  halt,  and,  as  if  to  excuse  himself,  made  the  follow- 
ing explanation  : 

"  Molang  having  interfered  when  the  prisoner  was  at 
the  stake,  there  could  be  no  further  question  of  Major 
Putnam's  ever  being  subjected  to  a  like  torture,  and  no 
reason  now,  if  indeed  there  was  any  half  an  hour  previous, 
why  we  should  linger  in  that  locality." 

In  fact,  it  was  wisest  we  depart  then,  for,  after  the  cruel 
sport  had  thus  come  to  an  end,  the  howling  brutes  might 
take  it  into  their  heads  to  make  certain  they  were  not  fol- 
lowed by  the  British  forces. 

"  But  if  he  is  still  held  a  prisoner,  we  have  not  accom- 
plished or  even  attempted  to  accomplish,  that  for  which 
we  came,"  Amos  said,  when,  the  explanation  concluded, 
Sewatis  resumed  the  march. 

"  I  did  not  believe  we  could  set  him  free  unless  by 
some  chance,  and  it  was  hardly  likely  that  would  come. 
There  is  no  possibility  now." 

"  But  yet  you  were  eager  to  set  out  with  the  hope  of 
aiding  him  ? " 

"  I  had  little  belief  of  being  able  to  do  that.  It  was  my 
purpose,  at  the  last  moment,  when  he  could  yet  under- 
stand what  was  being  done,  to  avenge  his  death,  and 
perish  with  him." 

"  Did  you  count  on  our  doing  the  same  ? "  Amos  asked, 
in  a  tone  of  horror. 

"  No  ;  but  I  wanted  you  to  see  it,  so  that  in  time  to 
come,  if  any  of  Molang's  tribe  fell  into  your  power,  you 


THE  PRISONER.  1 09 

could  taunt  them  with  having  lost  so  many  of  their  braves 
for  the  sake  of  torturing  one  white  man.  Now  we  will 
go  back,  and  quickly,  for  every  musket  will  be  needed 
at  Fort  Edward  once  the  French  soldiers  have  recovered 
from  their  alarm." 

From  that  moment,  until  we  arrived  at  the  fort,  no  halt 
was  made. 

I  tell  you  this  story,  lad,  to  show  how  we  fought  in 
1758,  and  there  is  no  reason  why  I  should  continue  to 
speak  of  what  Amos  Cowden  and  I  may  have  done  when 
we  served  the  King,  and  Israel  Putnam  languished  in 
a  French  prison  at  Montreal. 

You  already  know  of  his  distressing  march  from  that 
encampment,  where  he  came  so  near  his  death,  to  Ticon- 
deroga,  and  thence  to  Canada.  Also,  of  how  he  was 
released,  and,  unless  I  mistake  not,  you  can  tell  with 
greater  detail  of  what  he  did  when  he  served  the  colo- 
nists, than  when  he  served  the  King. 


THE     END. 


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